Serbia Expands Electricity Bill Reductions for Over 170,000 Households This Heating Season

Expanded Support for Serbian Households

The Serbian government, through the initiative of the Ministry of Mining and Energy, has announced that more than 170,000 households across the country are set to benefit from reduced electricity bills during the current heating season. This figure represents a substantial increase in the number of citizens eligible for support, with approximately 103,000 new households granted energy-vulnerable status and around 95,000 pensioners with minimum incomes receiving direct discounts.

The official heating season in Serbia typically commences on October 15 and concludes on April 15, though adjustments can be made based on prevailing temperatures.

Eligibility Criteria and Discount Structure

The expanded program encompasses several categories of beneficiaries and types of discounts:

• Energy-Vulnerable Consumers: This group includes recipients of social welfare, child benefits, disability assistance, as well as war veterans, military and civilian invalids, and family recipients of disability pensions. These households are exempt from lowered consumption thresholds between the blue and red tariff zones (1,600 to 1,200 kWh) during the heating season and can receive reductions on electricity, gas, and heating bills, with heating bill discounts ranging from 40% to 60%.
• Pensioners: Pensioners whose monthly pensions do not exceed 27,711.33 dinars and who have electricity meters registered in their name will automatically receive a monthly discount of 1,000 dinars.
• Electricity Saving Incentives: Households that actively reduce their electricity consumption compared to the same month in the previous two years can qualify for significant discounts. These range from a 20% discount for savings between 5% and 15%, up to a maximum of 40% discount for savings exceeding 30%.
• Low Tariff Consumption: An additional 5% discount is available for households that increase their low tariff consumption by at least 5% compared to the same month in 2022.

Application Process and Implementation

The process for accessing these benefits has been streamlined to ensure broader reach. Applications for energy-vulnerable consumer status are submitted through local self-governments. However, pensioners with minimum incomes will automatically qualify for their specific discount without needing to submit an application.

The state-owned public enterprise Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) is responsible for the implementation of these discount programs. The government's recommendation to EPS to introduce these discounts aims to stimulate rational electricity consumption and provide financial relief to vulnerable segments of the population.

Context and Previous Efforts

This initiative builds upon previous efforts to support households with energy costs. In 2023, over 190,000 households benefited from similar programs, marking a threefold increase compared to prior years. More recently, in March 2024, approximately 1.8 million households, representing 54% of the total, received discounts for rational electricity consumption. The current expansion of benefits is expected to further alleviate financial burdens during the colder months.