VERBUND electricity aid fund
of Caritas
The VERBUND Electricity Assistance Fund of Caritas supports people who cannot always manage on their own. We help people in need in Austria to free themselves from the ‘energy trap’. A below-average income often leads to above-average energy consumption. In cooperation with Caritas, VERBUND offers professional energy counselling, appliance replacement and bridging finance for electricity bills.
‘With our partner VERBUND, we provide affected people with professional energy advice, appliance replacement and bridging finance for electricity bills. These are exactly the types of assistance that we are asked for time and time again.’
President of Caritas Österreich
Support in emergencies
The fund has been helping people in Austria for many years. In future, Caritas projects to help Ukraine and the ‘Spark Warmth’ programme will also be supported with a total of 5 million euros. The focus is on caring for orphans and people with disabilities.
How to get help
Those affected can contact over 70 Caritas social counselling centres in all federal states. Here, the individual situation is analysed and suitable measures are determined. Regardless of the electricity provider, 500 to 600 households can be supported each year. VERBUND also finances energy counselling and the transport of replacement appliances.
Energy consulting and appliance replacement
Certified energy consultants analyse how energy can be saved in households, e.g. through energy-saving appliances or new window seals. The fund promotes the replacement of old appliances with energy-efficient branded products from Bosch, Siemens and Neff.
Bridge financing
If a household is unable to pay its electricity bill, the Electricity Assistance Fund offers timely help to prevent the electricity being cut off. The prerequisite for support is an energy consultation and any efficiency measures implemented. One year after the measures have been implemented, the energy consultant checks their effectiveness.
How we help
In partnership with Caritas, VERBUND offers professional energy advice, appliance replacement and bridging finance for electricity bills. In future, Caritas projects providing aid to Ukraine and the “Funken Wärme” programme will also receive a total of €5 million in support. The focus is on supporting orphans and people with disabilities.