By Chrysostomos Tsoufis

1.2 million households are estimated to benefit from the emergency allowance for those who heat with electricity announced by the Thodoris Skylakakis.

According to the energy minister, in Greece now 1 in 2 is heated with electricity. So for the first time, these “wronged” consumers for so many years will receive an extraordinary subsidy of €120 million from the New Year.

The subsidy will concern electricity consumption for the period from 1/1/2024 to 31/3/2024 and will range from €45 to €480 for the specific quarter and the philosophy for its calculation is exactly the same as the one for the heating oil allowance. As a basis for calculation, the Ministry of Energy takes €60, which is multiplied by the special factor that each part of the Greek territory has based on degree days, i.e. how cold it is.

Also assumed for its calculation is that 60% of the electricity bill goes to heating.

The granting criteria are also the same as the heating allowance. That is:

-Singles with income up to €16,000

-Married couples with income up to €24,000

-+5,000 for each child

-Real estate up to €200,000 for the unmarried and €300,000 for the married.

-The allowance increases by 20% for each child.

Suppose a married man with one child, who resides in Kozani , declares an annual income of €28,000, has property with an objective value of €250,000 and uses electricity for heating. Based on the criteria we mentioned, he is entitled to the allowance.

The allowance is calculated as follows:

-Basic allowance €60 x 3 months = €180

– Children’s increase 180 x 20% = €36

-With an area factor of 1.4

-€216 x 1.4 = €302.4

Excluded from the aid are those who receive the regular heating allowance and those included in the Social Household Tariff.

Even the application platform is the same as for heating oil. From January, beneficiaries will enter the myHeating of AADE and they will apply for the allowance. If their application is approved, and here is the big difference, they will not receive the money in their bank account but will see it as a discount on their electricity bill covering the period January – March 2023.

The €120 million fund will be covered by the Energy Transition Fund and not the state budget.