Ministry of Finance: Interpretation of the "New Deal" for the expansion of subsidies for energy-saving appliances

Recently, with the approval of the State Council, the central government will further increase investment to expand the promotion of energy-saving and environmental protection products, and include six types of energy-saving products such as energy-efficient desktop computers, fans and transformers into the scope of financial subsidies.

What is the significance of expanding the scope of promotion of energy-saving products? How will the next step improve financial subsidies and supervision methods? In response to the hot issues of concern to the society, the reporter interviewed the responsible person of the Ministry of Finance on the 9th.

Q: On the basis of expanding the promotion of energy-saving appliances in June, why is the scope of promotion further expanded?

A: To further develop consumer potential and establish an energy-saving appliance or product promotion system, the State Council has decided to increase the promotion of energy-saving product consumption, which is conducive to achieving multiple policy goals such as “stabilizing growth, promoting energy conservation, and benefiting people’s livelihood”.

First, it will effectively stimulate the consumption of energy-saving products, and the implementation of subsidies for energy-saving products will further tap consumer potential, give full play to the role of fiscal policies to promote consumption expansion, and guide the formation of a consumption model that conserves energy resources and protects the ecological environment.

The second is to accelerate the adjustment of industrial structure and implement the subsidy policy for energy-saving products, which will effectively expand the market share of energy-saving products, drive enterprises to accelerate technological transformation and industrial upgrading, and produce more marketable energy-saving products.

The third is to effectively promote energy-saving and emission reduction. The use of energy-efficient products will effectively reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life cycle. As a result, more than 50 million high-efficiency energy-saving air conditioners that were previously promoted have achieved a cumulative energy saving of approximately 58.3 billion kWh.

The fourth is to better benefit the people's livelihood. Consumers not only enjoy financial subsidies when purchasing energy-saving products, but also can save electricity expenses during the use of the products and get more benefits.

Q: Can you tell us about the budgetary arrangements for the central government's subsidy on energy-saving products this year?

A: The central government actively adjusts the structure of fiscal expenditures and effectively guarantees key expenditures for the promotion and subsidy of energy-saving products. The budget for this year was set at 15.5 billion yuan to support the promotion of energy-saving lamps, high-efficiency energy-saving air conditioners, high-efficiency motors, and energy-saving vehicles; the flat-panel television was expanded in June this year. The five major categories of energy-saving appliances such as air conditioners and air conditioners will be promoted, with an additional budget of 15 billion yuan. At present, the scope of promotion of energy-saving products has been further expanded, and an additional budget of 4.5 billion yuan has been allocated. Totally 35 billion yuan will be allocated for energy-saving products and Huimin project subsidies this year. Energy-saving product promotion provides reliable financial protection.

Q: Consumers are more concerned about the proportion of subsidies for energy-saving appliances. How are the financial subsidies for energy-saving products determined?

A: The verification of the financial subsidy standard is mainly based on the cost difference between high-efficiency energy-saving products and ordinary products, and is determined by comprehensive consideration of technological progress and scale effect. After comprehensive calculation, after the financial subsidy, the spread of energy-saving appliances and ordinary products, after 3 to 7 years, consumers can recover the investment through saving electricity; if the price of electricity is further increased, the payback period is shorter, consumers buy energy-saving appliances in the Economically, it is also cost-effective, but also conducive to energy-saving emission reduction. We will explain the explanations to consumers through various channels, and we will make good use of “energy saving accounts” and “ecological accounts” to guide the formation of a consumption model that conserves energy resources and protects the ecological environment.

Q: How is the payment process for energy-saving appliance subsidies designed? How to ensure the safety of the use of financial subsidy funds to prevent possible fraud?

Answer: The subsidy payment process for energy-efficient home appliances is to allocate the subsidy funds to the production enterprises. The production enterprises will redeem them to consumers through sales outlets at the time of sales, which is conducive to highlighting the main responsibility status of home appliance manufacturers.

Energy-saving appliance promotion In the face of millions of consumers, numerous manufacturing companies and sales outlets, the task of financial supervision is very heavy. In order to supervise the subsidy funds and prevent fraudulent subsidies, we have adopted a supervision method in which production companies submit complete sales supervision information and the government checks accordingly. To this end, we require consumers to sign a "subsidy receipt confirmation form" when they receive a subsidy, and provide the unique product code, personal identification information and contact information, etc. The purpose is to confirm the authenticity of sales. For the above requirements, the majority of consumers should fully understand and actively support.

Q: How to solve the problem of “a narrow range of subsidized products and a small variety of promotional products” that are reflected by consumers?

A: In response to the problems reflected by consumers, we are working with the National Development and Reform Commission to announce the second batch of promotional catalogues as soon as possible. At present, the second batch of reviews has been completed, and the second batch of flat-panel TVs and solar water heaters have been announced. The second batch of other three categories of products will also be announced in the near future. By then, the number of models of energy-saving household appliances will increase from the first batch of nearly 12,000 models announced to about 21,000, and the space and type of consumer choice will greatly increase.

In addition, under the stimulation of energy-saving appliance subsidies, companies have also begun to accelerate the pace of product structure transformation and upgrading, and the pace of listing new products has accelerated. Leading companies such as Haier and Hisense will begin to fully sell energy-efficient products on the market in September this year. Meet consumer needs.

It should be noted that the market share of energy-saving products that are included in the scope of Huimin Project is generally around 10% in the initial period of promotion. With the gradual emergence of policy effects, the market share of energy-saving products will rise rapidly. For instance, in 2009, the promotion of energy-saving fixed-frequency air-conditioners was launched. The market share of the first and second-level energy-efficient air conditioners increased from 5% in the initial period to about 80% in 2011, so as to meet the needs of most consumers and better promote consumption. And the effect of energy saving.

Q: What measures will be taken to solve the problem of energy efficiency falsification that consumers are concerned about?

A: Some consumers are concerned that “illegitiful companies infringe upon the interests of consumers through false labeling of energy efficiency and take out state financial subsidies”. In response, the AQSIQ has issued special notices with the Ministry of National Development and Reform and the National Development and Reform Commission. Organize special campaigns for special supervision and inspection of energy-saving products and Huimin Project and combat speculation against energy efficiency. The number of models inspected accounts for 5% to 10% of the product models in the promotion catalogue.

We will impose penalties on products and enterprises that are under-labeled for energy efficiency based on inspection results. With the gradual implementation of special operations, the issue of energy efficiency ambiguity will be curbed.

Q: How do you organize the implementation of new product promotion?

A: The new desktop computer and unit air-conditioner promotion will continue to adopt the promotion mode of energy-saving appliances. In the near future, it will publish and implement detailed implementation rules, announcement promotion catalogs, etc., and start the promotion work as soon as possible.

In the promotion of industrial products such as wind turbines and water pumps, we will make full use of the slowdown in economic growth and the timing of under-employment of enterprises, and vigorously promote the replacement of high-efficiency energy-saving products. In terms of specific operations, the combination of inventory adjustment and incremental upgrade will be adopted to encourage enterprises to speed up the elimination of outdated equipment, replace high-efficiency energy-saving products, and guide new projects to use energy-efficient products; adopt administrative constraints and policy incentives to combine energy-intensive projects Mandatory energy conservation requirements, and the use of incentive policies to mobilize the enthusiasm of enterprises; take time-limited subsidies combined with long-term effective mechanisms, select opportunities to raise industry energy efficiency standards, promote product upgrading, and realize energy saving, consumption reduction and pull in a wider range and broader areas. investment.