Effective 30 January, Ukrainians will be able to exchange 5 old incandescent lamps for the same quantity of LED lamps. The all-Ukrainian program, which aims to reduce the load on the power grid by replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving LED lamps in Ukrainian homes, was initiated at the end of 2022 by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and supported by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. The mass replacement of old lamps with energy-saving ones will reduce electricity consumption by 7-10% during peak times in the Ukrainian power grid. 

The program is implemented by the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Ukrposhta with the support of the European Union. It is being implemented as one of the energy efficiency tools that will allow Ukraine to withstand the energy crisis and ensure a balance of energy consumption during peak hours. It is estimated that if Ukrainians install the lamps at home, the replacement effect will be 0.7 to 1.5 GW of savings during peak hours. This will help significantly reduce electricity shortages in the system.

The European Union plans to provide Ukraine with 30 million LED lamps. The new EU-funded program is part of the European Union’s support for Ukraine’s energy front. 

First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko:

“It was important for us as a Government to ensure a systemic fight against the energy crisis. This task includes several tools. The first, of course, is the import of electricity from the EU. The second is the one that every Ukrainian can join. This is a program of free replacement of incandescent lamps with energy-saving LED lamps for the population. We have a very ambitious goal to provide 50 million light bulbs to Ukrainians on a free-of-charge basis. The EU has already provided 30 million, and the French government has provided another 5 million. Replacing 50 million bulbs will save about 1 GW of electricity. We are very pleased that the EU was the first to support us in this initiative, so today we are starting the exchange process that continue for last several months. As of now, Ukrposhta has already received 6 million 600 thousand light bulbs. By the end of February alone, 20 million lamps will be delivered to Ukraine under the program.”

EU Ambassador to Ukraine Matti Maasikas:

“By attacking Ukraine’s energy system and deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, Russia sought to turn winter into a weapon in its war against the Ukrainian people, to make life even more difficult for Ukrainians; to deprive hospitals, emergency services and homes of electricity, heating and water. These are war crimes that cannot go unpunished. The task is also to minimize and overcome the consequences.  I am confident that there are no trifles in this work and each of the light bulbs that Ukrainians will replace will also work for victory.”

Light bulbs can be exchanged at Ukrposhta offices. Incandescent light bulbs can be exchanged for new LED lamps at Ukrposhta offices in all regions in stages.  At the first stage, due to the greatest savings effect, regional centers will be supplied as well as Kramatorsk, Pokrovsk and Kryvyi Rih. Then the lamps will appear at post offices of raion centers. By the end of February, the lamps should reach the smallest villages.

Only serviceable incandescent lamps are accepted for the exchange. There are two ways to exchange them: with or without a pre-order. Instructions on how to do this can be found at https://svitlo.diia.gov.ua. If pre-ordered through the Diia app, the lamps are guaranteed to be waiting for a person at Ukrposhta offices for five business days after receiving confirmation in the Diia mobile app. Should the person fail to exchange the lamps during this time, the application will be cancelled. 

To apply for a light bulb exchange in Diia, you should:

• log in to the application;
• select Services – Light bulb exchange;
• specify contact phone number and preferred Ukrposhta office;
• specify preferred type and quantity of LED lamps.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine:

“Throughout the year, the team of the Ministry of Digital Transformation has been launching the most relevant services during the war. We want Ukrainians to be able to get them in a few clicks, instead of wasting time going to government agencies and waiting in lines. From now on, Ukrainians will be able to apply for a free exchange of five old incandescent light bulbs for five energy-saving LED lamps in the Diia app. And then get them at an Ukrposhta office. Thus, every Ukrainian will be able to make a contribution to saving electricity, and hence to strengthening Ukraine’s energy security.”

The lamps can also be exchanged at Ukrposhta offices without registration. In this case, the lamps will be exchanged only if they are in stock.

Ihor Smilanskyi, CEO of Ukrposhta:

“From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Ukrposhta has been a reliable partner of the state and supported it in critical tasks for the sake of our common victory. Electricity deficit reduction is another important front that must be protected by the joint efforts of the Government, the EU Program and all Ukrainians. Ukrposhta, having the widest network of offices, gives every citizen an opportunity to join the program – whether in a big city or in the most remote village. We take on this responsibility, despite all other tasks, because we understand that who else but Ukrposhta will do it?”

Old lamps will be recycled in accordance with applicable regulations and international standards.

More information about the light bulb exchange program can be found at www.svitlo.diia.gov.ua.

Earlier, the Government approved an EU-supported program for the population to exchange incandescent light bulbs for LED lamps. This is stated in the resolution “On implementation of a pilot project to create favourable conditions for ensuring efficient electricity consumption by the population”, which was adopted at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on 10 January 2023.