AKEL party proposes reforms to 2026 energy renovation grant scheme

On October 16, 2026, the General Secretary of AKEL, Stefanos Stefanou, sent a formal letter to the Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry, Michalis Damianou, regarding the recently announced 2026 Residential Energy Renovation Grant Scheme. While the party welcomes the government's decision to allocate 20 million euros for the energy efficiency upgrade of existing residences, Stefanou expressed concerns about the current structure of the program.

In his proposal, Stefanou argued that the current framework fails to adequately prioritize households facing the greatest financial difficulties and the highest energy costs. He emphasized that the scheme should function as a comprehensive policy tool to combat energy poverty rather than primarily benefiting those who already possess the financial capacity to fund such renovations. The AKEL leadership is calling for adjustments to the eligibility criteria and the distribution process to ensure that state support reaches the most vulnerable citizens effectively.

The initiative aims to improve the social impact of the 2026 grants and lower overall electricity costs for low-income families. As of now, the government has not issued a formal response to the specific recommendations, leaving the implementation of the grant program in its current state until further review by the Ministry of Energy.