The promised free energy-saving bulbs are still months away but people are not simply biding time but are already switching to the green alternative lighting as they feel the pinch of the higher electricity bills.

A spokesman for the Resources Ministry said they are "well underway for the implementation" of the budget's pledge to give away five energy-saving bulbs per household but the distribution could still take months because "the vouchers are still being verified".

He said the bulbs should be distributed in the coming months.

The government had pledged to hand out €4 million worth of vouchers that can be redeemed against energy-saving bulbs. But while a tax announced in the budget has come into force, the vouchers are nowhere to be seen. An eco tax of €0.25 has been levied on incandescent bulbs and €0.50 on florescent tubes.

When asked why the process is behind schedule, considering that a tax is already being paid on the old bulbs, the ministry spokesman said people could buy energy-saving lamps to avoid the tax.

He said the number of free bulbs given to households would depend on the number of people living there: families of two will receive five, households of three and four people will receive eight and those of five or more will get 10.

But ironmongers say people have already been switching to energy saving appliances and they have seen a sharp drop in demand for the old type that consume more energy.

John Zammit, one of the owners of the APE Centre, estimates that sales of traditional bulbs have gone down by about 80 per cent.

"People are not waiting for the promised vouchers but are going ahead and buying the bulbs," he said.

This in spite of the steep price difference between traditional bulbs - which cost about €0.50 - and the energy saving ones, which start from more than €2.

The higher price still scares people off, Steve Axiak, who owns an ironmonger's in Marsascala, said.

Although energy-savers use five times less energy, Qormi ironmonger Twanny Borg said many people are spending a lot of money on them but not using them properly.

"Many are buying costlier bulbs and still making an effort to switch off their light when not in the room," he said. Energy-saving bulbs, he explained, are best for lights that are left on for a long time. He said it is not good for any bulb to be switched on and off many times.