Portugal's E-LAR Vouchers Sold Out in Days—Hidden Costs & New Round

The E-LAR scheme that hands out energy vouchers to help Portuguese households swap gas appliances for efficient electric models tore through its first 30 M€ tranche in record time. In just six days, more than 40 000 applications flooded the system, forcing an early pause and triggering a government pledge for a second call in December. While supporters hail a fresh tool against fuel poverty, critics question whether the initiative truly lowers bills or merely shifts costs onto consumers.

A Frenzied Start That Emptied the Coffers

Server logs at the Fundo Ambiental platform show a surge so intense it crashed the site repeatedly after the programme opened on 30 September. By the time the window closed on 5 October, the six-day scramble had produced 21 000 vouchers worth 17 M€ committed, though only 3 M€ had actually been cashed in during retail check-outs. The episode revealed extraordinary public enthusiasm, but also implementation bottlenecks that the Environment Ministry now says it is “urgently addressing.”

What the Voucher Actually Buys

For families on the tarifa social, the subsidy can reach 1683 € ceiling—enough to cover an induction hob, an electric oven or a storage heater plus basic installation. All other applicants face an 1100 € cap. The coupon must be spent in a single transaction, becomes void after a 60-day expiry, and obliges retailers to provide equipment take-back so old units are recycled instead of ending up in landfill.

Winners, Losers and the Hidden Costs

The promise of free hardware is tempting, but the DECO PROTESTE warning is blunt: switching to electricity can inflate bills if households fail to adopt a bi-hourly tariff or need a contracted power upgrade. Extra cabling, ventilation tweaks and installation fees—rarely advertised in marketing brochures—can erode the benefit, especially for those not covered by the tarifa social. Navigating this maze has turned the programme into a careful household calculus rather than an automatic win.

Critics Say Structural Problems Remain Untouched

Associations such as ANFAJE and GEOTA argue that Portugal’s real enemy is the insulation gap in ageing buildings, not obsolete cookers. They dub E-LAR a “band-aid” policy that pours funds into gadgets while ignoring inefficient windows and leaky façades. Calls for neighbourhood-scale refurbishments, passive measures and better alignment with long-term carbon goals are getting louder, with environmental NGO ZERO pressing for deeper audits before fresh cash is unleashed.

Government Plans a Reinforced Second Round

Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho has already asked Brussels for an additional 50 M€ via PRR reprogramming. A second phase is slated to reopen on 2 December, and officials promise a more streamlined portal plus clearer fine print. Whether the new envelope leads to more generous ceilings? remains to be seen, but the government insists the revamped rules will sharpen Portugal’s energy transition push.

What To Watch Next

The real test lies in performance metrics: will households see meaningful drops in winter heating bills, or will electricity charges quietly creep up? Analysts will also track voucher redemption rate, supply chain resilience and overall consumer feedback. Those insights will shape future funding rounds and, ultimately, Portugal’s march toward its 2030 climate targets.