The Program for the Protection of Vulnerable Electricity Consumers in Kosovo was approved by the Government of the Republic of Kosovo via Decision No. 07/05, dated 6 October 2026. Additionally, the Minister of the Ministry of MLFLVW issued Decision No. 72, which outlines the conditions and criteria for eligibility under this Program for the Protection of Vulnerable Elecricity Consumers.
The Program aims to support households through the social protection system and ensure equal access to electricity—an essential service—by providing energy subsidies to vulnerable consumers. It contributes to the implementation of the Republic of Kosovo’s policies aimed at reducing energy poverty, protecting low-income households and vulnerable consumers, and supporting the energy transition toward a more sustainable and inclusive system.
The Program focuses on providing financial support through electricity bill subsidies, as financial assistance for electricity costs is considered one of the most effective ways to support vulnerable consumers. The Program for the Protection of Vulnerable Consumers for the 2025–2026 period has facilitated financial support for thousands of families in need and established an institutional framework for identifying and subsidizing vulnerable consumers through an electronic application process on the e-Kosova platform. The experience gained during the implementation of this program has demonstrated the importance of inter-institutional cooperation and the electronic exchange of data among public institutions.
However, several administrative, technical, and procedural challenges were identified during the program’s implementation, which affected the efficiency of the application, verification, and subsidy-receipt processes. Key challenges include: the need to improve the process for declaring family members; the accurate identification of the head of the household and their link to a specific electricity consumption unit; the prevention of inaccurate or multiple declarations; and the strengthening of data verification mechanisms through automated integration with state registries. Based on this analysis, it is assessed that there is a need to continue the Program for the Protection of Vulnerable Consumers for the 2026–2027 period, while improving the mechanisms for identification, application, verification, and monitoring, with the aim of directing public support toward families that meet the established criteria and ensuring the efficient, transparent, and fair use of public funds.
Purpose and Objectives of the Program
The purpose of the program is to ensure that all vulnerable consumers have equal access to affordable electricity by providing financial support for the payment of electricity bills, thereby improving their overall well-being and helping them manage electricity costs. The program focuses on financial support—specifically through the subsidization of electricity bills—based on the following objectives and goals:
Identification of vulnerable consumers – the program will identify vulnerable consumers who qualify for electricity subsidies based on objective criteria, such as low income.
Ensuring affordable electricity – another objective of the program is to ensure that vulnerable consumers have access to affordable electricity.
Protection of vulnerable consumers – this objective aims to provide a safety net for low-income families and individuals, pensioners, persons with disabilities, and those living in difficult social conditions.
Reduction of energy poverty – the program will contribute to reducing energy poverty and helping households manage the costs of energy for heating, lighting, and basic appliances.
Improvement of social well-being – support with energy bills will enhance the well-being of families, enabling them to allocate their other income toward food, healthcare, and education.
Eligibility Criteria for the Program
Support in the form of an electricity bill subsidy, under this program, is provided to households that use electricity for domestic needs and which, following the review and verification of data, are found to meet the conditions and criteria established in this program.
To benefit from this program, a household must cumulatively meet the following criteria:
All members of the household must be citizens of the Republic of Kosovo with permanent residence within the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, or foreign nationals holding a permanent residence permit within the territory of the Republic of Kosovo;
The average monthly income of the household over the last 12 months must be equal to or less than one hundred and fifty euros (150 €) per household member;
The cumulative value of immovable property (asset test) owned by the members of the household must be equal to or less than one hundred thousand euros (100,000.00 €);
