State measures to mitigate the increase in energy prices
Applications for energy support have ended.
The State is offering the following measures to mitigate the increase in energy prices:
I Reimbursement of electricity, gas and heating bills for households with up to the average net income
Compensation period: September 2021 to March 2022 (inclusive). Applications can be submitted until 13.06.2022.
Families with an average net income will be compensated in the amount of 80% of the price increase of a specific type of energy on the basis of electricity, gas, and heating bills. The allowance is paid to individuals and families whose net income is below the median of EUR 1126 per month per first member of the household. A household qualifies as a beneficiary if its net income is below the median level limit. This is calculated at EUR 1126 for one person in the family per month, plus EUR 563 (odds 0.5) for each subsequent household member aged 14 and older and EUR 337.80 (coefficient 0.3) for each subsequent household member under 14 years of age.
Applications for support are processed by local authorities.
II Price cap for electricity and gas bills for residential customers
Compensation period: January to March 2022 (inclusive). Applications can be submitted until 13.06.2022.
A price cap is established for electricity and gas bills, the remaining part of which is automatically compensated by the state to private consumers:
1) the price cap for household consumers is 12 cents/kWh for electricity consumption up to 650 kW/h per month. This means that if the price of electricity, either on the stock exchange or in a fixed price package, exceeds 12 cents/kW/h, this part of the electricity bill will be paid for by the state.
2) the price limit for domestic customers is 65 €/MWh for gas consumption up to 2.75 MWh per month. The state compensates for the amount exceeding the price limit.
A private consumer does not have to do anything to obtain compensation, an invoice is received from the energy seller, on which the part exceeding the price limit has been deducted in advance.
III Compensation of electricity network fee
Compensation period: October 2021 to March 2022 (inclusive). Applications can be submitted until 13.06.2022.
All electricity consumers will be reimbursed 50% of the network fee, which is automatically reflected in electricity bills as half the cost of the network service.
From January 2022 to March 2022, electricity network charges will be compensated to institutions and companies to the extent of 100%.
IV Compensation of gas network fee
Compensation period: December 2021 to March 2022 (inclusive). Applications can be submitted until 13.06.2022.
All consumers will be compensated 100% for the gas network service fee. Consumers are not required to take any action – the network fee is not reflected on gas bills, it is paid by the state.
Conditions for compensation
Applications for energy support have ended.
In Tartu, it has been possible to electronically submit an application for energy support for several weeks, with it now being possible in regional centres.
All regional centres of the Department of Social Welfare and Health Care (Anne 44, Rahu 15, and Vaksali 14) are also accepting applications for support during the following opening hours: Mon 15-18, Tues 13-16, Wed 8-12 and Fri 9-12.
The process of electronically submitting applications began in the second half of December and can be done through the Tartu City Portal or via a completed e-form sent to the e-mail address energiatoetus@tartu.ee. By 10 January, more than 400 applications for support had been received from residents of Tartu.
Deputy Mayor of Tartu Mihkel Lees calls on city residents to submit their documents electronically, if possible. ‘It is definitely not meant for everyone, and in order for the submission of applications to go as smoothly as possible, the application can, as of today, also be completed with the help of an official in different areas of the city.’ Lees added that the potentially large number of applicants requires patience from the applicants and those completing the applications. ‘Of course, we will do everything in our power to ensure that people receive support as quickly as possible,’ Lees added.
In order to compensate for energy costs, the grant can be applied for retroactively, for a period of five months, i.e. in February 2022, support can be applied for invoices prepared on the basis of consumption in September, October, November, December and/or January 2021. The city government recommends that support applicants review and gather together their energy bills for the past four months.
The decision on the payment of the allowance will be made within 35 working days after the submission of all documents and the money will be transferred to the applicant within 7 working days after the decision has been made.
In the City of Tartu, only registered residents of the City of Tartu can apply for energy support.
