Incentives to buy energy-efficient gas-based appliances begin today, the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Energy Administration said.
The incentive program is aimed at encouraging the purchase of gas heaters and stoves meeting 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 on Friday.
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 83 to 88 percent.
Photo: Chung Li-hua, Taipei Times
Up to NT$400 million (US$13 million) is to be given in incentives under the program, involving subsidies of NT$1,000 to NT$3,000 per appliance purchased from today until April 30, 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 Web site for online applications. The Web site provides information on subsidy procedures and services such as inquiries about specific products and the application status.
The administration said it would extend the subsidy program to replace old electronic appliances.
The program is aimed at replacing old air-conditioners and refrigerators with ones meeting Level 1 energy-efficiency standards. Such appliances that were bought last year and this year are eligible for a subsidy of NT$3,000, the administration said.
Up to NT$2 billion is to be spent on the replacement 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 could receive as much as NT$5,000 back for each air-conditioner or refrigerator purchased, the statement said.
The administration added that applications for these electronic appliances must include a recycle slip from the Ministry of Environment to confirm that the old appliances have been recycled.
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