In 2026, targeted energy assistance will be allocated based on a household’s assessed level of need, with the upper income threshold for eligibility set at €1,930 per month. This stems from a Finance Ministry bill approved by the government on Wednesday.
The new rules will take effect on 8 December.
Under the updated system, a new mechanism will evaluate each household’s need for support. The calculation will consider the number and composition of household members, their income levels, pension benefits and service pensions.
Energy aid for electricity and gas will be provided at prices set by government regulation. Assistance for heat supplied from central heating systems will take the form of an energy voucher, paid out in January and July. Each payment will represent half of the annual amount and will be delivered via postal order.
Next year, the maximum electricity price set by the Regulatory Office for Network Industries (URSO) will drop by €31.24 per megawatt-hour, while the maximum gas supply price will remain at its 2025 level. Existing rules that limit increases in heating prices and compensate suppliers—already in place for 2023–2025—will continue to apply.
According to the Economy Ministry, the regulation will have a negative impact of €370 million on public finances, an amount already included in the state budget. At the same time, it is expected to deliver positive social effects. Without the regulation, end-user electricity prices for eligible households would rise by roughly 22 percent, and gas prices by nearly 30 percent. The ministry added that energy vouchers will cover almost 30 percent of the increase in centrally supplied heating costs for all households entitled to support.
Source: TASR
