A total 97 per cent of households in Malta and Gozo are getting an energy allowance or voucher, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said this afternoon.

Addressing a news conference he said that allowance cheques were being given out to families who consumed less than 10,000 units and who were not entitled to the energy voucher.

A one-person family will get €55, a two-person family €80, a three-person family €105, a four-person family €130, a five-person family €155, and a six-person family €180.

The actual cheques are to start being mailed on Monday.

Mr Fenech said that with this money, the government would be compensating for the increases in the utility tariffs brought about with higher cost of oil.

This exercise was costing the government €11 million, a million euro more than the previous estimate, which had been based on 2008 energy usage data.

In 2009, people had been more careful in energy usage with a good number going under the 10,000 unit threshold.

The allowance, the minister said, should cover the difference in the energy tariffs.

The minister said that because of the rise in the cost of gas, the energy benefit would also be increased to €15 in the case of families and €25 for pensioners.