Energy poverty is characterized by a household's inability to afford adequate energy
services for a decent standard of living, extends beyond mereincome deprivation, encompassing
factors such as poor housing conditions, high energy prices, and inefficient energy
consumption. Consequently,understanding and addressing energy poverty requires a holistic
approach. energy poverty is also shaped by factors such as the energy efficiency ofdwellings,
the cost of energy, and individual energy consumption behaviors. Early scholarly contributions,
notably Brenda Boardman’s seminal work,established the foundational understanding
of energy poverty as a condition where households are unable to afford adequate energy
services to maintaina healthy and comfortable living environment. Building on Boardman's
work, subsequent research has further refined these factors, integrating aspectslike
energy efficiency, housing quality, and the broader socio-economic context to provide
a more nuanced understanding of energy poverty dynamics.The complexity behind the
concept of energy poverty has led to varied measurement approaches globally, with
no single, universally accepted standardfor assessing energy poverty, leading to challenges
in international comparability and policy implementation. Recognizing these complexities,
theEuropean Union has moved towards a more comprehensive understanding, seeking to
integrate various dimensions into a cohesive Framework. TheEuropean Union's approach
often incorporates metrics such as the inability to keep homes adequately warm, the
presence of leaking roofs or dampwalls, and high housing cost overburden rates to
capture the lived experiences of energy-poor households. This research employs a methodologycentered
on four basic indicators extracted from Eurostat data, enabling a comprehensive examination
of energy poverty's social, income, and housingquality components. Specifically, the
selected indicators – percentage of total population living in a dwelling with structural
defects, percentage ofhouseholds unable to keep home adequately warm, and housing
cost overburden rate – offer a framework for assessing the multifaceted nature of
energypoverty across EU member states. The general trend indicates a slight improvement
in the level of energy poverty across EU countries, albeit withpersistent variations
between the best and worst performers. While some policy measures may be effective
broadly, others require refinement to addressspecific national or regional challenges.
Furthermore, an increased focus on energy efficiency policies and renewable energy
sources has been identifiedas a key driver for alleviating energy poverty, particularly
in the long-term. This underscores the critical need for agile and adaptable policy
responsesthat can swiftly address emergent challenges while fostering long-term resilience
in energy systems.
