Thousands of low-income families throughout Thessaly are part of the pioneering Program for the replacement of oil heating systems by natural gas systems. The Grant Program is implemented in the framework of the NSRF 2014 - 2020 of Thessaly Region and the NSRF staff structure of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, with a budget of € 6.12 million and with EDA THESS having the role of competent body for the Receipt and Control of applications, the certification process, and the payment of the grant. As the Governor of Thessaly Kostas Agorastos and the General Manager of EDA THESS Leonidas Bakouras announced, the program’s budget that offers a grant of 65% to 100% tends to be covered and the connection works with natural gas are about to begin.
Kostas Agorastos, Governor of Thessaly:
"I thank EDA Thessaloniki-Thessaly for the speed with which it implemented a program that is useful for the society and families which until now could not be connected to natural gas due to financial hardship. It is a program that reduces by 40% the cost of energy consumed for heating and at the same time provides all the benefits deriving from the use of natural gas. Consequently, thousands of low-income families are subsidized either with 100% to replace the heating system in case they are beneficiaries of the social solidarity allowance or they are subsidized with 65% if they have up to 20,000 euros individual income and up to 30,000 euros family income. In addition, the beneficiaries benefit from the 100% discount on the connection fees with the natural gas network offered by EDA THESS. The program foresees an annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 2,500 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. We are improving the environmental footprint and we are creating new job opportunities as for the connection of the 2,500 residences to the natural gas network, engineers, plumbers, technicians and other specialties are employed. In collaboration with the Special Management Service of the NSRF of Thessaly 2014 -2020, we have strategically designed an innovative grant program and we are the first Region in the country where low-income citizens will be connected to natural gas soon.We believe that in the next NSRF of Thessaly 2021 -2027 there is the possibility to design a similar program for the connection of even more families in Thessaly to natural gas network which do not have the financial capability. We support people in need. We do more for those who possess less. My sincere thanks for the speed with which all those involved acted, so that the benefits of the Program reach the citizens quickly. It is a pilot program for the whole country, to be implemented by other regions.
Leonidas Bakouras, General Manager of EDA THESS:
"The Region of Thessaly announced the Program for the replacement of oil heating systems with natural gas systems, within the framework of the NSRF. We are here today to update the Region about the progress of the Grant Program since the competent body for its implementation is EDATHESS and to thank the Regional Governor of Thessaly Mr. Agorastos for the inclusion of such an action. This is a program that started on 4/02/2021 and within 2 months it has absorbed a large percentage of the available resources, as a large number of applications have been submitted in order to cover the total budget. A record of absorption of the NSRF program in Thessaly has been registered, as this initiative was embraced by the citizens in all 4 Prefectures of the Region and the program tends to be completed in just 60 days. EDA THESS will continue to receive applications until the amount of the grant is covered, to ensure the maximum possible absorption by shortlisted applications. The program contributes to energy savings and environmental protection. Once again, we thank the Region for the efficient cooperation, which we maintain over time for the continuous improvement of the local communities in the area. The possibility of including a corresponding program in the next NSRF will support families which are unable to meet the cost of replacing the existing heating system.It is worth noting that the Gas Distribution Company of Thessaloniki - Thessaly continues the implementation of its five-year investment plan, amounting to 61.45 million euros in the Region of Thessaly, with investments that for 2021 will reach 12.42 million euros, including two new areas in the gas distribution network, Alykes of the Municipality of Volos and Efxinoupoli of the Municipality of Almyros".
