Starting 3 November, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova has officially launched the registration process for energy compensation for the 2025-2026 winter season. Household consumers are invited to register via the compensatii.gov.md platform or seek support from authorized registrars. The deadline for submitting applications for the month of November is 28 November. Starting in December, the application submission period will be open from the 1st to the 25th of each month. Applications submitted within this period will result in compensation being disbursed starting in the same month.

Since the establishment of the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with development partners, including the Government of Italy, has provided critical assistance to the Government of the Republic of Moldova in mobilizing the necessary resources for the fund. Additionally, UNDP has supported the continuous development of the registration platform and the Energy Vulnerability Information System (SIVE), which calculates compensation amounts for each household based on individual household needs. Also, the work of the call centre is supported.

Once the data is entered into the system, SIVE calculates the compensation for each household, taking into account factors such as family situation, household income, the number of household members, their status (pensioners, students, minors), and the energy source. As in the previous season, all eligible households will receive compensation in the form of direct monetary payments. Payments will be transferred directly to bank accounts or can be collected at post offices across the country.

On an annual basis, more than 770,000 applications are submitted via the compensatii.gov.md platform, either directly by citizens or through authorized registrars, including social workers and specialists from the Unified Centers for Public Services (CUPS).

In localities with a high number of applicants, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has deployed mobile teams to assist citizens in registering. Detailed information regarding the locations and schedules of these teams is available through local social workers. For questions related to the registration process, the toll-free call center number 0 8000 5000 (Monday-Friday from 08:00 to 18:00) is available.  

“As in previous years, the Government remains committed to supporting its citizens. This year's program is being implemented under similar conditions to those of the previous cold season, with no changes to the registration procedure. We are prepared to manage the entire process and handle the flow of requests so that every citizen can receive the support and compensation they are entitled to," stated Natalia Plugaru, Minister of Labor and Social Protection.

To ensure the accuracy and integrity of the compensation process, the SIVE system performs data verification, processing information from approximately 11 informational systems and databases from multiple institutions, including the State Tax Service, the National House of Social Insurance, the Public Services Agency, energy providers, financial institutions, the National Employment Agency, the National Council for Disability and Work Capacity Determination, and universities. This comprehensive cross-checking process ensures that the correct compensation amount is calculated for each household, thereby enabling targeted and equitable support.

During the 2024-2025 season, more than 720,000 households, representing approximately 1.47 million people, benefited from compensation, including over 480,000 pensioners.

According to UNDP estimates, the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund has contributed to reducing energy poverty by approx. 10.6 percentage points over the last three winter seasons. World Bank analyses show that the impact of price increases on poverty was mitigated by 8.3 percentage points.

The Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund (EVRF) was established in 2022 by the Government of the Republic of Moldova, with support from the European Union, Slovakia, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Since its inception, the Fund has provided bill compensation to nearly 900,000 households, representing approximately 75% of all households in Moldova. In the 2024-2025 winter season, UNDP, alongside ten other European Union member states, contributed approximately 1.2 billion lei to the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund, also supporting the modernization of the information system.