Help to pay energy bills and measures to save energy

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1. Homeowners' communities with central gas heating, which previously could not, may temporarily switch to the regulated last resort gas rate until December 31, 2023. As a condition, they must install individual heating meters or cost allocators by September 30, 2023.
2. The minimum aid per beneficiary of the thermal social bonus rises from 25 to 40 euros, and 225 million euros are added to fund it in 2022.
3. The cap on the last resort gas rate and the flexibility measures for gas supply contracts are extended until the end of 2023, and self-employed workers can now also use these flexibility measures.
4. The electricity social bonus is strengthened: the discount rises from 60 to 65% for vulnerable consumers and from 70 to 80% for severely vulnerable ones, and the annual energy limits eligible for the discount increase by 15%.
5. A new temporary category of vulnerable consumer is created for households with income between 1.5 and 2 times the IPREMIPREM Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples: an income reference used to decide who qualifies for aid.. They will get a 40% discount on all PVPCPVPC Precio Voluntario para el Pequeño Consumidor: the regulated electricity rate whose price changes every hour. terms until December 31, 2023.
6. Electricity and gas bills will include more information: average consumption of households in the same area or postal code and a link to the CNMC offer comparison tool. A cap of 5% is also set on the penalty for canceling a gas contract during its first year.
7. Self-consumption and renewable energy get a boost: the maximum distance for grid-based self-consumption rises from 500 to 1,000 meters for rooftop plants, smart gas meters are approved, and red tape is cut for plants up to 500 kW.
8. Public employees receive an additional 1.5% pay raise in 2022, with a maximum consolidated increase of 3.5%, and back pay for January through October is paid in the November payroll. In addition, the required work days for seasonal farm workers in Andalusia and Extremadura to access farm subsidies drop from 35 to 10.

Who it affects

• Homeowners' communities with central gas heating: They can pay the last resort gas rate if they meet the conditions, such as installing individual meters.
• Vulnerable households with the electricity social bonus: They will receive higher discounts on their electricity bill and expanded energy limits.
• Households with income between 1.5 and 2 times the IPREM: They can temporarily access a 40% discount on the PVPC rate.
• Public employees: They will receive an additional 1.5% raise in 2022, with back pay from January.
• Seasonal farm workers in Andalusia and Extremadura: They will need only 10 contributed work days, instead of 35, to access farm benefits.

Words worth knowing

Tarifa de último recurso (TUR)

The maximum price that designated suppliers can charge consumers entitled to this regulated gas rate.

Bono social

A discount on the electricity bill for households in a situation of vulnerability.

Bono social térmico

Financial aid to help vulnerable households pay for heating, hot water or cooking.

PVPC

Precio Voluntario para el Pequeño Consumidor: the regulated electricity rate whose price changes every hour.

IPREM

Indicador Público de Renta de Efectos Múltiples: an income reference used to decide who qualifies for aid.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries