"Rabla for household appliances", the program to replace old household equipment with new and energy efficient ones, was officially launched in the Republic of Moldova, with the first two sessions - for LED light bulbs and large household appliances - being inaugurated.

The program helps vulnerable households reduce their electricity costs by replacing old appliances with new energy-efficient equipment, aligning with the Government's efforts to increase energy efficiency in the residential sector.

"About half of the energy consumption in the Republic of Moldova is accounted for by households, and household appliances account for a significant share of consumption. By replacing energy-consuming appliances, we are helping vulnerable families to reduce their energy bills and at the same time make their homes more comfortable," said Victor Parlicov, Minister of Energy.

The launch of this program, with an estimated total budget of USD 5.8 million, was made possible thanks to funding provided by the European Union through the UNDP-implemented project "Addressing the Impact of the Energy Crisis in the Republic of Moldova".

"We are launching this program today with the objective that one day all consumers in the Republic of Moldova will be able to replace their household appliances with new ones that consume less energy. On the one hand, this change will generate more savings for each and every one of you and, on the other hand, it will contribute to the country's efforts to fight climate change, because less energy consumption means less carbon emissions," said Jānis Mažeiks, the European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova.

At the initial stage, the program is implemented by UNDP Moldova in partnership with the Agency for Energy Efficiency (AEE), with vouchers available for about 50,000 families for LED lamps and about 6,000 families for large equipment.

"I would like to thank our valued partners who have played a key role in the realization of this program. We express our gratitude to the European Union for supporting energy vulnerable households and for their vital assistance in realizing our vision for a more sustainable energy future in Moldova. Household savings are essential in conserving energy resources. By replacing old household appliances with newer, energy-efficient models, we are taking a much-needed step in reducing energy consumption and ensuring that the most vulnerable households are the first to benefit from sustainable solutions," said Daniela Gasparikova, UNDP Resident Representative in Moldova.

The program offers financial support, in the form of vouchers, for up to 80% of the cost of a refrigerator, electric stove or washing machine. At the same time, in order to redeem the voucher, the beneficiary will have to pay the 20% contribution and hand in a used household appliance of the same type. The products can then be collected for recycling by the appliance shops upon delivery of the new appliance and the contribution will be paid into the special EEA account. The funds accumulated from the contribution will be used to provide new vouchers to other families, thus making it possible to increase the number of beneficiaries.
"In developing the given program we placed a strong emphasis on digitalization and ensuring equal opportunities for all energy vulnerable families, regardless of age or access to information technology. Preliminary results have confirmed expectations. Thus, since the very first days of the launch, beneficiaries aged 82 have been identified, who have easily redeemed the voucher without having to stand in line somewhere or go to institutions to submit certain applications to be able to benefit from a voucher", said Ion Muntean, Director of the Energy Efficiency Agency.

It is expected that with the implementation of this program, vulnerable consumers will benefit from lower electricity bills due to the use of more energy-efficient and energy-saving equipment and lighting fixtures.

"These vouchers help us a lot to refurbish old household appliances that we are not financially able to replace. It would mean saving money for longer, which is not easy for a family with six children and a disabled grandparent. We chose a fridge, we got the old one from our parents, maybe not so energy efficient anymore. We first went to one of the shops indicated on the voucher to get information in advance", said Mariana Mariț, a beneficiary who redeemed a voucher for large appliances at the program's launch ceremony.

The vouchers are given to consumers registered in 2022 on the platform compensatii.gov.md and who have been identified as having a very high degree of vulnerability. Only eligible beneficiaries will be notified in stages via SMS, e-mail or phone about the availability of vouchers in their personal accounts on the online platform compensatii.gov.md.

Households that register for compensation this year will be eligible for the voucher program to be implemented in 2024 by the National Center for Sustainable Energy, created through the reorganization of the EEA.

Details about the program can be found on the website ecovoucher.md. In case of the need for support in redeeming the voucher, it is possible to contact the Support Center of the Agency for Energy Efficiency, at the telephone number 0 8005 5005.