Taipei, Dec. 29 (CNA) A program offering incentives to consumers to buy energy-efficient gas appliances will begin on Jan. 1, 2024, the Energy Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs said Friday.
The program is aimed at encouraging the purchase of gas heaters and stoves that meet Level 1 or 2 energy-saving standards, and each residence can apply for subsidies for one heater and one stove, the administration said in a statement.
The Level 1 standard for gas products requires a thermal efficiency of 88 percent or higher, while the Level 2 standard requires a thermal efficiency of between 83 and 88 percent.
Up to NT$400 million will be given in incentives under the program, involving subsidies of NT$1,000 to NT$3,000 per appliance purchased between Jan. 1 and April 30, 2024, the administration said.
It estimated that the program will support the purchase of an estimated 230,000 appliances.
Applicants need to prepare an application form, valid ID, a bank passbook, an electricity bill using the address where the appliance was installed, and a receipt for the purchase and mail them to the designated address via registered mail.
The administration has also set up a website allowing people to apply for the subsidy online. The website also provides information on subsidy procedures and services such as inquiries about specific products and the application status.
The Energy Administration said it will also extend the subsidy program to replace old electronic applications.
The program is aimed at replacing old air conditioners and refrigerators with ones that meet Level 1 energy-efficiency standards. Such appliances bought in 2023 and 2024 are all eligible for a subsidy of NT$3,000, the administration said.
Up to NT$2 billion will be spent on the program, which is expected to subsidize the purchase of about 640,000 appliances.
Combined with a commodity tax rebate program from the Ministry of Finance, consumers can get as much as NT$5,000 back for each air conditioner or refrigerator purchased, according to the statement.
The administration noted that applications for these electronic appliances must include a recycle slip from the Ministry of Environment to confirm that old appliances have been recycled.
