Engineers of Macedonia are demanding immediate action to protect vulnerable energy consumers, asserting that thousands remain without adequate safeguards against energy poverty despite the new Energy Law. A petition has been submitted to the Government, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Labor, and the Regulatory Commission, urging the implementation of urgent measures before the arrival of winter.

The petition calls for the swift adoption of a methodology for identifying and assisting vulnerable consumers by the end of August, the creation of a functional register by October, the disbursement of already approved subsidies, and a realistic assessment of the number of citizens in need.

According to Engineers of Macedonia, the new Energy Law, while intending to protect citizens living in poverty, single parents, pensioners with low incomes, and people with disabilities, has not yet resulted in tangible assistance. They point out the absence of a functional register, a defined methodology, and the lack of subsidy payments.

They highlight the insufficient number of applicants and approvals for subsidies, stating that only 745 people applied, with only 454 being accepted. The organization believes that this figure is significantly lower than the actual need, estimating that there are at least 110,000 vulnerable consumers.