Last batch of energy benefit vouchers to be sent by post

Families on social welfare, individuals at risk of poverty and institutions such as orphanages will receive their last energy benefit vouchers in the coming weeks as new system offers beneficiaries discounted water and electricity bills.

The energy benefits will be given over and above the utility tariffs reductions.

In Malta, there are around 26,000 families considered to be social cases and receive energy benefit vouchers. These families' income does not exceed the €169 per week, €4 more than the minimum wage.

The new system follows a reality where €500,000 worth of vouchers annually were not claimed. Beneficiaries will now receive credits in their bills.

Social Solidarity Minister Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi said €4.3 million were budgeted for this measure.

Beneficiaries also include humanitarian cases, whose income exceed the minimum wage but certain disabilities or medical issues make them eligible for energy benefit vouchers.

Around 90 organisations will also benefit from these energy benefits.

"This is one way how we show social solidarity. Social indicators showed that in 9.7% of the Maltese population was energy poor. This figure rose to 11.1% in 2012," Coleiro Preca said.

Konrad Mizzi argued that it didn't make sense for beneficiaries to have to exchange the vouchers if they didn't have enough money to pay the bills in the first place.

"Many were not exchanging the vouchers because they could not pay the bills. Beneficiaries will now receive credits in their bills," Mizzi said.

He added the government's energy strategy complemented the social aspect and said his ministry was also working on providing price stability over gas and fuel.

"We are doing everything possible to stabilise the prices. We did so for three months and we are now studying what would the best time to buy to ensure favourable prices," he said.

The minister added that by the end of 2014, the government might provide consumers with a six-month LPG price stability instead of three.