The Bureau of Energy yesterday said it plans to increase its subsidies for the purchase of energy-efficient home appliances by NT$500 million (US$15.15 million) in a bid promote domestic energy conservation.
“We received more than 180,000 applications for the subsidies shortly after the government carried out a series of economic stimulus measures. We think it is necessary to increase the amount given the strong demand,” Bureau of Energy Director-General Lin Chuan-neng (林全能) told reporters before a weekly meeting at the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taipei.
The Cabinet in October announced a series of economic stimulus measures to increase private consumption and boost the nation’s flagging economy.
Under the stimulus package, which began on Nov. 7 and runs until Feb. 29 next year, the energy bureau aims to allocate NT$1.63 billion in subsidies to consumers purchasing energy-efficient home appliances.
Consumers can apply for up to NT$2,000 for each purchase of energy-efficient home appliances, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, TVs and water heaters.
Lin said the bureau has approved about NT$438 million in subsidies since the beginning of this month. TVs, air conditioners and refrigerators accounted for most of the applications.
“We are worried that the NT$1.63 billion might run out before February,” Lin said, adding that the bureau also thinks it is a good time to encourage people to conserve energy by increasing the amount of subsidies paid out.
Lin said the bureau is waiting for the Cabinet’s final approval of the additional NT$500 million.
In related news, Unity Opto Technology Co (東貝光電), the nation’s second-largest LED chip packager by sales, yesterday said it started shipping LED bulbs priced NT$99 to home-improvement outlet B&Q (特力屋) at the end of last month after the two firms established a strategic alliance.
Unity Opto said the LED bulbs with B&Q’s brand name have been displayed on the shelves of B&Q’s 26 outlets in Taiwan since the beginning of this month.
In addition, B&Q has started to sell Toshiba Corp’s high-end LED bulbs, which have been manufactured by Unity Opto since the third quarter, the LED chip packager said.
Unity Opto said that the prices of LED bulbs have fallen below NT$100 in Taiwan, while the penetration rate of LED bulbs is forecast to rise significantly next year from 45 percent in the first half of this year.
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