The AEE introduces a support scheme aimed at promoting energy efficiency. It aims to achieve a national final energy-saving target of no less than 65 terawatt-hours of electricity.

The AEE obliges entities from the public sector to implement at least two of the energy efficiency measures it describes. These measures include, in particular, (i) implementing and financing a project to improve energy efficiency, (ii) acquiring a device, installation or vehicle characterized by low energy consumption and low operating cost, or modernizing or replacing existing equipment, (iii) modernizing buildings so that they become energy-efficient, (iv) running an energy audit on the buildings that the entities manage and (v) implementing low-emission projects, such as replacing appliances or heating systems that do not meet low-emission standards.

To obtain white certificates, an application for an energy efficiency certificate must be submitted to the President of the Energy Regulatory Authority together with an energy efficiency audit. White certificates are property rights resulting from the documents certifying respective reductions in energy consumption (so-called “certificates of energy efficiency”). The volumes of electrical energy and natural gas sales to be covered by white certificates or the substitution fee in each calendar year are set out in the secondary legislation to the AEE. Consequently, the legislation (indirectly) sets the maximum price (cap) of white certificates (substitution fee). No minimum price is guaranteed by law.

In addition, it is possible to fulfill the obligation within the framework of nonrefundable subsidy programs to co-finance energy efficiency improvement projects. The reference values of final energy savings and the method of calculating these values, necessary to determine the amount of the final energy saved under nonrefundable subsidy programs, are set out in the Decree of the Minister of Climate and Environment.

Energy-efficiency projects can be prepared by any entity that can bid in tenders for receiving “white certificates”. These projects can include a number of initiatives that reduce the consumption of energy, including thermo-modernization of buildings, or their renovation or reconstruction.