A reallocation of funding will see subsidies for energy-efficient air conditioning and refrigerator purchases in 2023 continue despite the exhaustion of an initial NT$2 billion (US$64.63 million) budget for this year, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said Sunday.
In a statement, the MOEA said it had decided to allocate an additional NT$3.3 billion from the program's NT$8 billion budget to fund subsidies for 2023 purchases of energy-efficient refrigerators and air conditioning units.
Under the scheme, started in January, consumers can apply for a NT$3,000 subsidy when buying refrigerators and air conditioning units rated Level 1 by the Bureau of Energy's energy-efficiency certification scheme to replace appliances over 10 years old.
According to the MOEA, around 640,000 consumers have already applied for the subsidies this year.
However, an MOEA official said that with the NT$8 billion budget being reallocated rather than increased, the subsidy fund will be NT$2 billion next year and NT$700 million in 2025.
The MOEA said that the reallocation would cover the purchase of 1.70 million refrigerators and air conditioners this year, providing energy savings of more than 1.015 terawatt-hours.
The ministry also reminded consumers of a tax incentive program introduced by the Ministry of Finance in 2019 aimed at encouraging people to purchase energy-efficient household appliances.
Under the tax reduction program, which runs until June 14, 2025, consumers can receive a commodity tax reduction of up to NT$2,000 when purchasing new Level 1 or 2 refrigerators, air conditioners, or dehumidifiers.
