OREANDA-NEWS. April 09, 2015. The Government of Ukraine distributes the program for energy efficiency and introduces compensation of the cost for insulation of houses and for Associations of Apartment Owners, "Compensation will make up 30% and 40% respectively," Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk said at a Cabinet’s meeting on Wednesday, April 8.

The total amount of funds involved in the program is worth UAH1.57 billion. Approximately 134 thousand families will be able to use this program.

The Prime Minister reminded that last year the Ukraine’s Government had begun the program for 20% compensation off the cost of boilers consuming alternative fuel.

At the same time, he stressed the need to "consume less energy." He gave the example of Poland, which GDP is four times higher than the GDP of Ukraine, but it consumes five times less energy, "That’s the reason why the Government is introducing an energy efficiency program. If you want to change a gas boiler, which is inefficient and expensive for you, then 20% of the cost of the boiler consuming alternative fuel will be compensated from the budget. If you want to insulate the apartment - 30% of the cost of the insulation, but not more than UAH10 thousand, will be compensated by the state as well. If you want to insulate the house - 40% of the cost for Associations of Apartment Owners, the state compensates for each apartment, and no more than UAH10 thousand as well."

Arseniy Yatsenyuk addressed to Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Regional Development, Construction Housing and Utilities Ukraine Hennadii Zubko with the leadership of Oschadbank to explain the citizens - "to explain to people how to take credit in the bank, receive compensation from the state budget to buy new windows, insulate the house, replace the boiler and finally get the compensation." According to him, regional administrations with regional departments of Oschadbank across Ukraine should also take part in explanations.

The Prime Minister also underlined that one of the main objectives of the Government is "to do everything to reduce the cost for each family of bills, as well as expenses for housing and communal services": "In order to compensate tariffs, the Government has begun a broad program of subsidies," he recalled, noting that citizens had already received first letters with the documents required for obtaining subsidies.

"We have reduced the amount of documents needed, we have almost completely eliminate the red tape and simplified the process. A person receives an application, fills in answers to 15 questions, sends it to the social service, avoids standing in line. And the social service shall appoint subsidies for citizens," Arseniy Yatsenyuk noted.

"The one who is poor, who lacks for money to pay for housing and communal services - that receives a direct subsidy from the state," he said, recalling that the state budget provides UAH24.5 billion for financing subsidies and thus 15 million people will be able to get subsidies.

The Prime Minister has appealed to Hennadii Zubko to hold a meeting with the heads of regional state administrations and representatives of the power supply companies and re-check how applications for subsidies are being sent, "I also ask the Minister of Social Policy to continue the work aimed at explaining to people the Government’s activity."