The program "Rabla for household appliances", an initiative that will bring significant benefits to vulnerable consumers in the Republic of Moldova, is launched, thanks to the funding provided by the European Union, through the project "Addressing the impact of the energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova", implemented by UNDP.

Rabla for Household Appliances" offers vulnerable families the opportunity to reduce their electricity bills by replacing old household appliances with new energy-efficient equipment.

The first phase of the program kicks off today, 15 November, with the LED light bulb session, which will award free vouchers to around 50,000 families. The vouchers will be given to consumers registered last year in the Energy Vulnerability Information System on the platform compensatii.gov.md, who have been assigned very high energy vulnerability. Families with at least one child are given priority in the beneficiary selection process, the number of children in the family being a prioritization criterion. Electricity consumption is also analyzed.

Beneficiaries will be gradually notified via SMS messages, e-mail or by phone to be informed about the availability of vouchers in their personal accounts on the platform compensatii.gov.md. Also, beneficiaries who do not have mobile phones or internet access will be assisted by representatives of the Unified Centers for the Provision of Public Services (CUPS).

"This program is an innovative example of leveraging the support of development partners in a responsible and efficient manner that will ensure the continuity of the program even after the completion of the external assistance project. The information system, which underpins the administration of the program, allows voucher recipients to be identified in an automated way, eliminating human intervention in the decision-making process. This ensures a transparent and impartial approach to distributing vouchers to those who need them. Through this program, support is provided for the purchase of more energy-efficient household appliances, thus helping to promote a responsible and sustainable use of energy resources," says Ion Muntean, director of the Agency for Energy Efficiency.

According to estimates, just replacing a single 60W incandescent light bulb with a 10W LED bulb, similar in brightness, brings savings of 328.5 lei per year. In a household where five light bulbs operate simultaneously for seven hours a day, replacing the bulbs with energy-saving LED bulbs will result in savings on the electricity bill of about 1642.5 lei per year.

With a total estimated budget of $5.8 million, the "Rabla for Household Appliances" program will provide financial support in the form of vouchers for up to 80% of the cost of a refrigerator, electric stove, washing machine. Beneficiaries will contribute 20% of the value of the equipment. At the same time, in order to redeem the voucher, the beneficiary will have to hand in a used household appliance of the same type. The vouchers for LED bulbs will be offered free of charge, without personal contribution.

Details about the program can be found on the website ecovoucher.md. In case the need arises for assistance 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.

The program "Rabla for household appliances" is implemented in partnership with the Agency for Energy Efficiency (AEE), which is in the process of reform and will be called the National Center for Sustainable Energy.