Fuel poverty and the energy benefits system: The Italian case

Raffaele Miniaci, Carlo Scarpa and Paola Valbonesi

No 66, IEFE Working Papers from IEFE, Center for Research on Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy

Abstract: In this paper we discuss a number of ways to define and measure the affordability of energy consumption, and we examine the emergence of fuel poverty in Italy in the period from 1998 to 2011. The paper examines the eligibility criteria for claiming the benefits available to support energy consumption for vulnerable families and it identifies the potential beneficiaries. The study assesses the appropriateness of the eligibility criteria by comparing the population targeted by the policy with the population actually living in fuel poverty. A simulation exercise, using the hypothetical scenario most likely to result in energy benefits being made available, shows that, regardless of the affordability index adopted, the provision of state energy benefits has little impact on fuel poverty.

Keywords: fuel poverty; affordability; energy benefits; vulnerable consumers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D12 I32 I38 Q4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40 pages
Date: 2014
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene and nep-eur
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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