The environment and energy ministry on Friday announced subsidies to help more than 1 million businesses cover the increased cost of electricity between December 2024 until February 2025.
The subsidies are set at 2 cents per kilowatt-hour and are applied to 60 - 100% of consumption (depending on turnover), while bakeries, pastry shops and dry cleaners will receive 4 cents per kilowatt-hour for all consumption regardless of turnover.
The subsidy framework concerns businesses with a turnover of up to 10 million euros that have electricity supply contracts with variable tariffs, i.e. more than 1 million businesses. Applications for the payment of the subsidies will be submitted from the first 10 days of May on an electronic platform being built by HEDNO. The resulting subsidy amount will be automatically credited to the beneficiary's electricity bill.
Businesses with overdue electricity debts are also eligible for the subsidy. On the contrary, businesses that have committed a proven theft of electricity are excluded. These cases amount to 32 thousand, resulting in a total saving of approximately 3 million euros, which will be allocated to the overall budget of the subsidy framework.