The Government made changes to the conditions for the implementation of the programme for exchanging incandescent light bulbs for LED ones. At a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, it was decided to introduce an additional option for pensioners to receive five LED bulbs directly at JSC Ukrposhta post offices upon availability of a pension certificate. This was reported by Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy of Ukraine.

“I want to thank all Ukrainians who joined the light bulb exchange programme, which is aimed at reducing electricity consumption. As part of the implementation of the first and second phases of the programme, citizens and legal entities received more than 21 million LED bulbs. This helped to significantly reduce the load on the country’s energy system. Our goal is to replace about 18 million more incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs in order to reduce the load on the country’s energy system. This is especially relevant in the winter period. Therefore, the Government decided to implement an additional opportunity for pensioners to receive five LED bulbs directly at JSC Ukrposhta post offices”, Yuliia Svyrydenko emphasized.

She noted that this time, pensioners will not have to immediately carry old light bulbs for exchange. They may be brought to Ukrposhta offices within a month from receiving five additional LED bulbs.

The first light bulbs under the new wave of the programme will be available from December 5 at all rural Ukrposhta offices throughout the country, except for Kyiv region. In the Kyiv region, pensioners will be able to additionally exchange light bulbs from December 12. The availability of light bulbs for exchange in the remaining settlements will be notified separately.

In order to exchange additional LED bulbs, pensioners who visit a post office need to have their passport, registration number of a taxpayer’s registration card, pension card and a valid phone number with them. Pensioners will be able to exchange additional energy-saving light bulbs for free, as long as LED bulbs are available. Those pensioners who have already exchanged light bulbs may also use the exchange programme and get additional 5 energy-saving light bulbs.

“Ukraine has been living in a state of full-scale war for almost two years. The coming winter season will bring new challenges. We have already seen new attempts by russia to destroy the Ukrainian energy system. But energy workers work tirelessly to ensure uninterrupted generation and supply of energy, the Armed Forces do everything to protect energy facilities. The EU systematically cooperates with the Government of Ukraine and takes the necessary steps to support the country’s energy system. The Light Bulb Exchange Programme is one of the ways in which every citizen can contribute to this support,” Katarina Maternova, EU Ambassador to Ukraine, said.

According to preliminary estimates, the economic effect of exchanging another 18 million LED bulbs will allow a total saving of up to 1,000 MW simultaneously, which is equal to the operation of a nuclear power plant unit.

Background:

The Light Bulb Exchange Programme is supported by the European Union in response to the call of President V. Zelenskyy and is implemented by the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, JSC Ukrposhta in all regions of Ukraine, except the war zone and temporarily occupied territories. The EU-funded programme is a component of the European Union’s support for the Ukrainian energy front, as one of the energy efficiency tools that will ensure the balance of energy consumption during peak hours.