Mapping energy poverty in the EU: policies, metrics and data

Panel: 7. Make buildings policies great again

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Faidra Filippidou, European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) Petten, The Netherlands
Maria Kottari, European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), The Netherlands
Savvas Politis, European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), The Netherlands
Christiana Papapostolou, Centre of Technological Research of Piraeus and Islands (CTR), University of West Attica, Greece

Abstract

Energy poverty is a complex socio-economic problem and has recently gained wider attention as a priority policy issue for the EU (European Union). Designing a concept definition which represents adequately all its symptoms within the EU territory and accommodates all existing national understandings and interventions has proven particularly challenging. What is more, the lack of the common definition is hampering coherent EU actions and results in downgrading the importance of the issue from policy makers and citizens. Energy poverty primarily has its root in both low household income and energy inefficient dwellings.

This study provides an overview to the commonly understood, yet not universally defined, issue of energy poverty as it evolves in the EU today. We start by depicting the contemporary understanding on the issue, while attempting to untangle its complexity and highlight its causes and symptoms.The work continues with a synopsis of the legislative initiatives of the European Commission related to the topic, as initiated by the Third Energy Package and has been currently addressed in the package of measures included in the "Clean Energy Package".

Most important, we explore options for measuring the prevalence of the issue in connection to the reporting obligation, derived from the new Energy Union Governance Regulation, on the number of households in energy poverty and the energy performance of the housing stocks by MSs (Member States). The role of energy efficiency interventions at household level as an energy poverty mitigation instrument is discussed.

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