The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has issued for public consultation amendments to the law on the electricity sector, where one of the innovations relates to the way in which “clients in need” are defined and supported.

According to the draft, the status of a client in need will continue to be determined by the Ministry responsible for social affairs, in cooperation with other institutions and in consultation with the Energy Regulatory Authority. But for the first time, in addition to income and consumption levels, factors such as energy costs and the energy efficiency conditions of households are also included in the assessment.

This means that beneficiaries will not only be low-income families, but also those who, regardless of their income, face high energy costs or live in homes with poor energy efficiency.

The draft law also provides for a more structured system for identifying and tracking this category.