Act-Programme (including the Creation of the Fund for General Reduction of Energy Costs)

The Act-Programme establishes the 'Fund for general reduction of energy costs' to support energy-saving measures adopted by the most vulnerable households. The Fund offers low-interest or 0% rate loans to finance energy efficiency measures for individual households (maximum EUR10,000 (USD12,549) /year/household). The poorest households that could qualify for support by the Fund are identified through co-operation between local government and local ‘social action unit'. Energy audits are carried out and the most relevant energy efficiency investments are identified. The details of the loan are agreed upon between the Fund and the local government entity, which is also the guarantor of 95% of the total amount of the loan. The debt ceiling of the Fund is EUR 150 million (USD 188 million).