Energy affordability and energy inequality in Europe: Implications for policymaking

• Published in: Energy research & social science 2016-08, Vol.18, p.21-35
• Main Authors: Dubois, Ute, Meier, Helena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Affordability; Energy poverty; Inequality; Public policy
• ISSN: 2214-6296; 2214-6326
• DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2016.04.015

•Energy poverty at the country level is characterised by energy service deprivation on the one hand and energy inequality on the other hand.•The core energy service deprivation problem is not the same in all European countries.•In some countries energy inequality is low, whereas in others, some household groups are particularly affected.•The severity of energy service deprivation and the nature of energy inequality in each country influence the feasibility of energy poverty reduction policies. The concept of fuel (or energy) poverty is a much-debated topic both at the EU level and in individual countries. However, the specific forms of energy services deprivation differ between European countries. This paper explores an analytical framework of energy poverty at the macro-scale, based firstly on energy services deprivation and secondly on an analysis of energy inequality, where energy inequality relates to the fact that different household groups are not affected in the same way by energy services deprivation. This framework allows for a comparison between EU countries and discloses their relative affectedness. Policy implications with respect to the differing fuel poverty problems and recommendations are discussed.