Power Pass – SOS applications start

By Prokopis Chatzinikolaou

From today until June 30, households will be able to apply in order to receive the allowance of up to 600 euros for inflated electricity bills. The financial aid amounts will be credited to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts in the first ten days of July, unless the application deadline is extended.

According to the decision, the allowance is entitled to household electricity consumers that are contracted with floating electricity supply tariffs that are adjusted based on the wholesale electricity purchase price. The aid concerns the consumption account of the main residence as well as the rented residence of dependent children of the household studying inside.

Consumers should be aware of the following before applying:

– To calculate the amount of aid per beneficiary, the amount of the allowance for each household utility bill issued in the period from 1 December 2021 to 31 May 2022 is initially calculated. The amount of aid per electricity bill is calculated as 60 % on the positive balance resulting from the deduction from the amount of the adjustment clause in the account of deduction amounts. In case the bill does not concern a floating electricity supply invoice that is adjusted based on the wholesale electricity purchase price, the applicant is not entitled to receive aid. Also, in case the account does not concern a household benefit, the applicant is not entitled to receive aid.

– After calculating the amount of aid per bill, the electricity supply number of each account is matched with the applications submitted by the beneficiaries, regarding the electricity supply number of their main residence and the electricity supply number of the rented residences of the children attending the interior. The financial aid is granted to beneficiaries who were charged with a total increase of electricity bills for an amount over 30 euros and can not exceed 600 euros per beneficiary. The amount of financial assistance is tax-free, inalienable and unsecured in the hands of the State or third parties, by way of derogation from any general and special provision, are not subject to any withholding, fee or contribution including the special solidarity contribution, is not bound or offset by to the tax administration and the State in general, municipalities, regions, insurance funds or credit institutions and is not counted in the income limits for the payment of any social or welfare benefits.

– Before submitting the application, the beneficiary must have submitted a tax return of income for the tax year 2020 by May 1, 2022, if required by law. If he is required to file an income tax return for the first time in tax year 2021, he must have filed a tax return for tax year 2021 before submitting an application for financial assistance.

– To have declared in 2021 annual net, after the deduction of taxes, family income up to 45,000 euros. If he submits a tax return for the first time, the net family income that will be declared this year is taken into account. The details of tax residence and income are taken into account, as stated, until the time of the application of each beneficiary.

– All the data for the main residence are taken from the income tax return of the tax year 2021 in case it has been submitted, or of the tax year 2020 in case the tax return of the tax year 2021 has not been submitted yet. In case the beneficiary has changed main residence during the period 1 December 2021 to 1 May 2022, fills in the power pass platform the data for the main residence that lived on 1 December 2021, 1 January 2022, 1 February 2022, 1 March 2022, 1 April 2022 and on May 1, 2022. The change of the main residence is a responsible declaration to the tax authority and is pre-filled in the data of the income declaration of the tax year 2022. In case a final income declaration has been submitted for the tax year 2021, the details of the main residence for December 1, 2021 can not be changed.

– For electricity bills relating to the rented residence of dependent children of the family studying at home, the application for financial assistance is made by one of the parents or guardians who declares in Table 6 of the tax return the rent he pays for the residence of a child of the family who studying inside. In order to apply, the parent or guardian must have previously submitted a final income tax return for the tax year 2021 and have declared in Table 6 of the tax return rent paid for the residence of a child of the family studying inside and the corresponding power supply number.