Another opportunity to receive support is being prepared: part of the population could receive electricity for free or very cheaply

The mayor of Panevėžys district is open: The government has been fighting with the energy project for the second year, and no more clarity is emerging.

“The system itself is very complex. I don’t know why this is done. We need to create a community, we need to take loans, we need to count the people who need social support”, Panevėžys district mayor Antanas Pocius told LNK.

Andrius Viržaitis, elder of Velžio, has a similar opinion. In his ward, only half of those on social assistance take the support and allowances seriously, while the other half of those living in poverty clearly abuse it.

“They use all possible allowances, all possible support, and to put in some work themselves or at least show a desire to earn that money in an orderly or honest manner – it really doesn’t exist,” he asserted.

Even now, socially assisted persons are given housing for a minimum rent, heating and water are compensated, but some of them still have debts of 5 thousand euros, so the appearance of another support, that is for electricity, will not eliminate poverty.

“Those who consider those debts to be large enough – in reality, it will not affect them,” said A. Viržaitis.

“If you don’t want to work, then you don’t need electricity. Earn electricity yourself if you need it”, residents also shared their insights.

It is true that people on social support, who cannot survive without support, are just waiting for another opportunity to receive it.

“Would you live on 190?” If it weren’t for the children, it would be bad,” complained Gražina, a resident of Velzi.

The government is justifying itself that it is not really introducing support for electricity because of the elections, but because the poor have not had it until now.

“To date, most of the measures have been aimed at generating consumers, that is, those consumers who have the funds to buy power plants on their roofs or at a distance, as well as businesses. In the meantime, people who are in need were forgotten”, said Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys.

For the sake of free electricity, municipalities will have to work to establish energy associations and build renewable resource power plants in their city – solar, wind, hybrid or use a remote solar power plant.

“At least 30 percent of the power plant must be assigned to people in need,” said D. Kreivys.

Joniškis has already installed solar power plants on all administrative buildings of the municipality. He promises to use new support, because there is a need.

“Municipal companies that provide water supply, that transport residents, when electric buses are used – their need is also growing,” said Joniškis Mayor Vitalijus Gailius.

Municipalities will have to assign at least 1 kilowatt of electric power to one poor person. Theoretically, if he is an average user who consumes 1000 kilowatt hours per year, the electricity will be free for him. If it exceeds, it will be paid.

“They would continue to pay according to the general rate they currently have,” said Finance Minister Gintarė Skaistė.

It is estimated that 130 thousand residents will apply for free or almost free electricity.

“According to the law on cash social support, we see that on average we have about 69,000 people per month who receive cash social benefits,” said Minister of Social Security and Labor Monika Navickienė.

The start has already been given for the applications of energy companies. It is not yet clear how many municipalities will benefit from the support, but hundreds of millions have already been reserved for this in the state budget.

“The total package is 206 million euros. Half of them are grants, half are loans. Every financial instrument that will go to a specific municipality will be made up of the following parts – this means 50 and 50. There will be no division that the first receive more grants, the others more loans”, asserted G. Skaistė.

Skeptics say that the word “free” is just a cover-up here, because all taxpayers will pay for electricity for the poor.

“If someone provides electricity to someone for free, his costs will be borne by others. I think that there is no need for such manipulations and exceptions”, said Seimas member Algirdas Sys.

“What is suitable for everyone usually does not touch one or another segment. Here we purified the most sensitive group,” said M. Navickienė.

Several dozen energy societies have already been established in Lithuania.

You can find the full report on the LNK portal: