Around 622,000 vulnerable families receive energy compensation

Around 622,000 vulnerable families are benefiting from energy compensation during this cold season. The financial support has ranged from 500 to 1,000 lei and has covered, on average, up to 40% of the bill cost. Minister of Labour and Social Protection Natalia Plugaru made the statement in Parliament during the examination of the simple motion on policies in the demography, poverty reduction and compensation of energy resource costs.

According to the minister, the financial support is provided from the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund through Meter Aid program, implemented for the fourth consecutive season.

"Over all these years, the programme has been adjusted according to price developments. Thus, the state together with its partners has allocated, in total, over 11 billion lei, through various mechanisms, to provide the compensation. Over the years, development partners, several donors and the European Union member states have stood by us. These are the funds of European Union citizens that have reached the Republic of Moldova to support vulnerable families in overcoming the energy crisis. In the 2025–2026 season, the entire budget of 2.34 billion lei was allocated from the state budget," said Plugaru.

The official stressed that 53% of households receive the maximum compensation, which is 800 lei for solid fuel and 1,000 lei for other heating sources.

"The majority of the beneficiaries of this programme are pensioners, children and young people, persons with severe disabilities or unemployed people. These are the individuals who needed this financial support in order to pay their bills. According to official data, about 1.2 million citizens benefit from compensation, meaning half of the country’s population," added Plugaru.

Meter Aid program has been providing, for the fourth consecutive year, energy compensation to vulnerable households during the November–March period. The support is granted in the form of monetary payments, which are paid monthly. For this purpose, 1.5 billion lei were allocated from the state budget in 2024, and 2.34 billion lei in 2025.

To determine whether a household qualifies for compensation and to set the compensation amount, the Energy Vulnerability information system applied a series of eligibility and qualification criteria, accessing data from more than 11 state databases and information systems. The program is technically supported by UNDP and the Government of Italy.