Cabinet Allocates Additional Funds for Energy Fund, More Help for Households This Winter

For the public energy fund that will be available from the winter period 2026/2027, over €100 million extra is being allocated with support from the European Social Climate Fund. This was announced by State Secretary Nobel (Participation and Integration) in a letter to the House of Representatives.

Last autumn, thanks to the Grinwis (CU) amendment, a one-time €50 million became available to help people who cannot pay their energy bills. Because a public energy fund can only be established from the winter period 2026/2027, the cabinet has decided to release €30 million for municipalities in the coming months.

Of this, €20 million comes from the amendment. Additionally, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment is allocating €10 million to better reach households experiencing energy poverty. The 151,000 households that have applied through the Temporary Energy Emergency Fund and have indicated they are open to help in reducing their energy bills are eligible for assistance.

State Secretary Nobel is pleased that municipalities have the opportunity with these resources to provide extra help to households struggling to pay their energy bills. Municipalities can connect to existing services; from sustainability initiatives and energy coaches to income support. The goal is to make energy bills more manageable for households this winter. “It is good that we can help households this winter. We must ensure in the long term that households can structurally reduce their energy bills.”

From next winter, a multi-year public fund will be available for households who cannot pay their energy bills, combined with help in making homes more sustainable. A total of €339.75 million will be available for the fund. This is €105.25 million more than initially planned. This is possible because the cabinet decided to focus more on help with energy poverty when applying for the European Social Climate Fund.

The European funds are subject to approval of the proposal by the European Commission. The exact duration of the public energy fund is still being worked out.