The Regional Secretariat for Energy, Environment and Tourism, through the Regional Directorate for Energy, has concluded the process regarding the automatic allocation of the social electricity tariff and the reduced audiovisual licence fee. The discounts correspond to new prices, with retroactive effect from July 1, 2016 or from a later date if the agreement for the supply of electricity was registered after that date.
This administrative process intended to regulate the automatic access to the social electricity tariff on the part of Azorean citizens who meet the stipulated requirements; potential beneficiaries no longer have to apply to this tariff. It will cover 11 thousand users, while currently there are only about three thousand beneficiaries.
The eight thousand new beneficiary clients are being notified by letter. They are being informed about the entire procedure, namely that they should receive a check letter or that the amount will be credited in their bank account; the latter applies to clients who have opted for the direct debit system.
The stipulated amount of the discount to be considered for the universe of clients benefiting from the social tariff is set at 33%, compared to the regular tariff.
Eligible beneficiaries of the social electricity tariff are economically vulnerable clients covered by the following social support measures: solidarity pension supplement for the elderly, social integration income, unemployment benefits, family allowance, disability pensions or old-age pensions.
Clients who consider themselves to be beneficiaries of this measure and were not covered by the current survey process may request a document certifying their eligibility condition at the Social Security or Tax offices. It should be submitted to EDA (regional electricity company) for verification of the requirements for the allocation of the social electricity tariff.