The date for the second phase of the program, for energy efficiency in buildings, had already been announced by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, in a parliamentary hearing on November 4th.

In a statement, the Ministry of Environment highlights that the new phase of E-LAR has €60.8 million available, more than double the first edition.

The Government also says that there is a new eligible expense in the tender, for beneficiaries of the social electricity tariff, which is the removal of equipment and sealing of gas piping.

The E-LAR program finances the replacement of gas appliances with more efficient electric solutions, "consolidating the national commitment to energy efficiency, the electrification of domestic consumption, and the protection of vulnerable families," says the statement.

According to the new announcement, people can register starting on the 11th, but from next Thursday, the 4th, already qualified suppliers must express their interest in remaining in the E-LAR Program.

If they do not, according to the statement, it will be considered that they wish to leave the supplier network.

In the statement, the Ministry reaffirms what the minister had already said, that the energy efficiency rules remain in place.

The new equipment must meet energy class A or higher, with exceptions already foreseen — electric hobs without a minimum class and water heaters above 30 liters with class B or higher.

In the statement, Maria da Graça Carvalho says that the new phase of E-lar represents “an even stronger commitment to the thermal comfort of families, to the electrification of consumption and to the reduction of energy inequalities”.

The Ministry also highlights that the launch of the 2nd phase occurs just days after the European Commission praised Portugal for the effectiveness of its policies to combat energy poverty.

In the previous call for applications, in October, the program received 40,000 applications in just six days, quickly exhausting the available amount of €30 million.

The Environmental Fund website explains that the objective of E-lar is to support families in purchasing efficient equipment and electrifying energy consumption.

For example, it serves to support the replacement of gas-consuming equipment, such as stoves, ovens and water heaters, with electric equipment, such as hobs, cookers or water heaters.