Things are not always what it is measured: On the importance of adequately assessing energy poverty

Sandrine Meyer, Laurence Holzemer, Thiago Nyssens Moraes Da Silva and Kevin Maréchal ()

No 16-025, Working Papers CEB from ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles

Abstract: Energy poverty is a major societal issue with both economic impacts and solidarity implications. Although its main drivers (e.g. insufficient income, bad quality housing, high energy prices) are widely recognised, there is no common definition of energy poverty at the European level, let alone a common way of measuring the phenomenon. The energy poverty barometer for Belgium has been developed accordingly. It draws on a set of composite indicators with the aim of grasping the multifaceted nature of energy poverty: excessive energy bills compared to available income (measured energy poverty), restriction in energy consumption below basic needs (hidden energy poverty) and self-reported difficulties to heat the housing correctly (perceived energy poverty). The results of the barometer are enriched and complemented with the insights of a field survey carried out in collaboration with municipal Public Centres for Social Action from the Brussels-Capital Region. The usefulness of combining an indicatorbased approach relying on macro statistics with a more qualitative field study leads us to support the setting up of a dedicated platform involving stakeholders. This broader and more systemic understanding would help moving beyond a ‘one size fits all’ approach to intervention which could be detrimental for some affected households.

Keywords: Energy poverty; Barometer; Indicators; Social inclusion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D10 D63 Q40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 23 p.
Date: 2016-06-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-eur and nep-hme
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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