Around 6000 applications for heating cost subsidy so far

After just over a week, almost 6,000 applications have been received for heating cost subsidies from the new Berlin state programme. This was announced by the Senate Department for Economic Affairs on Friday in response to an enquiry from the Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

Households and businesses that heat with oil, pellets, coal or liquefied petroleum gas can receive a one-time grant of up to 2,000 euros against the background of significantly increased energy costs. Applications have been possible since 31 January. The vast majority of the 5920 applications (as of Thursday) (5685) are for grants to cover the costs of heating oil.

Application processing time of around four weeks

There were another 100 applications for pellet heating systems, even fewer for expenditure on liquid gas or coal. In total, the application volume so far adds up to around 5,686,000 euros. Approvals have not yet been received; the processing time at Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) is around four weeks, according to the economic administration.

"De minimis limit" of 100 euros

The new aid programme is intended to relieve those who had cost increases of more than 70 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year. The subsidy amounts to 80 percent of the additional costs above this value. However, a "de minimis limit" of 100 euros applies - amounts below this are not taken into account.

Heating cost subsidy part of Berlin's relief package

"The number of applications confirms how important it was that we started the heating cost assistance programme quickly, as the first federal state to do so," said Economics Senator Stephan Schwarz (non-party). "The programme is part of a large protective shield that Berlin has put up to quickly and reliably relieve the people and businesses in our city during the energy crisis."

Over 160 million euros for heating cost subsidies

In Berlin there are about 320,000 households that heat with oil and 7800 that heat on the basis of pellets. In addition, there are 1900 flats with coal stoves and a few hundred that are heated with liquid gas systems. In the supplementary budget, 75 million euros have been earmarked for heating subsidies. In addition, corresponding federal funds are to be used, which Berlin is entitled to in the amount of 93.4 million euros.