
Although Albania does not yet have a functional natural gas market, the government has approved the decision on the status of the customer in need of natural gas supply. This includes family customers, who, due to their social status, will have to enjoy some special rights, related to gas supply, which means compensation of expenses for natural gas consumption.
According to the decision, the financial support varies from 50% to 100% of the consumption costs, depending on the category to which the client belongs who will be categorized in need. This includes families benefiting from economic aid and the 6% fund, families with disabled members, pensioners, work invalids, as well as the blind, who will still have to prove their low income, in relation to the minimum wage in force.
Also, in addition to the level of income, family customers benefit from the status of a customer in need of natural gas, if some other criteria are met, and more specifically when natural gas is used as the main source for heating or food preparation in the apartment where the family lives in question, as well as the natural gas equipment to be connected to the natural gas distribution system through the installed measuring equipment. The document specifies that this decision will extend its effects to the moment of operation of the natural gas infrastructure, which meets the criteria according to the legal acts in force.