By Chrysostomos Tsoufis

The premium with up to 20% higher heating allowance for those who choose to heat with electricity this year is advanced by the government in a clear attempt to “push” more households to more environmentally friendly heating solutions. The Ministry of Finance and Energy have finalized the relevant ministerial decision. According to the schedule:

-The decision will be issued in the next few days
– Applications start in November
-The first payments are made in December

According to information, this year’s changes to the heating allowance will include:

-Increase of the maximum allowance from €1000 to €1200
-The allowance for using electricity will be 20% higher than the allowance for using oil or other sources
– The allowance will also be increased for very cold areas, but without exceeding €1200.
-Payment in 2 installments. The first in December at a rate of 60% of the total eligible subsidy. However, it will be calculated based on the cold degree days (that is, the assumption about how cold it is in an area) of last year. The 2nd installment will come in April and will take into account the data of this winter season.

It is estimated that around 800,000 households will share €260m in subsidies this year.

However, income and property criteria do not change:

-€16,000 for the unmarried
-€24,000 for the married person with an increase of €5,000 for each child.
-For a single-parent family – without the child surcharge – the limit is set at €29,000 with a surcharge of €5,000/child

The real estate limit must not exceed:

-The €200,000 for the single
-€240,000 for couples (marriage, cohabitation agreement)
– An additional €40,000 is foreseen for each child.
-The “cutter” remains unchanged for those running a business whose gross income must not exceed €80,000

The myHeating platform will open in November and the grant application must include the following information as the case may be:
– VAT number and Name
– Number of dependent children
– Indication if it is an apartment building
– Electricity supply number of the main residence property,
– Postal address
– Indication if the residence is privately owned, rented or granted free of charge, as well as the A.F.M. the lessor or the free grantor,
– Square meters
– Type of heating fuel or thermal energy desired to be subsidized,
– Contact Details
– The beneficiary’s IBAN is mandatory

For fuels other than heating oil, the number of the proof of purchase of fuels or consumption of thermal energy through district heating, the amount/value of the transaction, the Tax Registration Number (A.F.M.) and the name of the company – seller of the types of heating fuel or thermal energy.