The Finance and Budget Committee of the Georgian parliament has discussed new amendments to the law on energy efficiency. This was held to make any new changes if necessary.
It is to be specifically mentioned that the first reading of the bills was presented by the Government of Georgia as a legislative initiative. This bill also includes some amendments to the law of Georgia on Energy Efficiency and amendments to the law of Georgia on Energy Efficiency of Buildings.
According to Nino Enukidze the First Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development both draft laws are derived from the 2002 European Union directive and therefore the current laws are brought into compliance with this directive as the country is on the way to European Integration as well.
According to him both bills are also related to the agreement signed with the World Bank and this is a developing policy operation according to which it is necessary to adopt these bills to make the country’s journey towards European integration easy.
Nino Enukidze stated specifically that “An important change is included in the Law on Energy Efficiency of Buildings. According to the current law the Government of Georgia is obliged to make 1% of the state-owned areas energy efficient. That one percent changes to three percent now”.
He also added “The Government of Georgia will be obliged to make 3% of the state-owned and used spaces energy efficient every year. Technical changes were also introduced into the law. Also by the requirements of the European Directive the procedure for conducting inspections of heating and cooling systems is being formed in a new way”.
As the speaker mentioned the bills will come into force from January 2, 2025 as for residents they will have the obligation to conduct an energy audit from 2028 but this will not apply to old buildings. The Finance and Budget Committee supported the bills in the first reading.
