Supported by the EU: The light bulb exchange programme has reached out to even a wider range of beneficiaries to strengthen energy security

In December 2023, after the initiative to exchange five more power-hungry incandescent bulbs for LEDs was introduced for pensioners, who reside in rural areas, Ukrainians replaced 4.5 million old bulbs with energy-saving ones!

As of 4 January 2024, urban retirees will also have the same opportunity to benefit from. At Ukrposhta offices, they will be able to exchange five more old light bulbs for energy-saving ones for free under the EU and Government Programme to reduce burden on Ukraine’s power grid by replacing inefficient lamps with modern ones. The programme is active in 23,000 municipalities across all the regions of Ukraine, except for the war zone and temporarily occupied territories.

The exchange rules remain unchanged: both pensioners who have decided to receive energy-saving light bulbs for the first time, and those who have already benefitted from the exchange programme before, are invited to visit Ukrposhta office having their passport with them, tax ID, pensioner identity card, and an active phone number. At the same time, they do not have to have old bulbs for exchange with them right away but can bring them to Ukrposhta within a month of receiving five additional LED light bulbs.

Pensioners can exchange additional energy-saving bulbs for free while LEDs are available.

Since the outset of the All-Ukrainian incandescent light bulb exchange programme, Ukrainians have already replaced more than 26 million bulbs. Currently, another 14 million LEDs are available for exchange, and all willing citizens can benefit from the opportunity. Also, the programme will continue to be available for legal entities (healthcare facilities, schools, kindergartens, polyclinics and housing cooperatives). They can receive LED bulbs by submitting their application through the DIIA application.

Background

The Light Bulb Exchange Programme is supported by the European Union and implemented by the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine and Ukrposhta across all the regions of Ukraine with the exception of the war zone and temporarily occupied territories. This EU-funded programme is part of the European Union’s support for the Ukrainian energy system.

Media contact:

Tetiana Voronina, Media Expert, ‘Communicating the European Union for Ukrainians’ (CEU4U), an EU-funded project implemented by Ecorys, tvoronina9@gmail.com, +38 067 501 11 83