Comparing different methodological approaches for measuring energy poverty: Evidence from a survey in the region of Attika, Greece

Abstract

This paper uses and comparatively evaluates objective, subjective and composite indicators for measuring and analyzing energy poverty in Attika Region, Greece. The necessary data for the quantification of these indicators were gathered through a survey involving 451 households. The results of the analysis showed that the measurement of energy poverty based on classical objective and subjective indices leads to divergent results, which in addition have little relevance to each other. To a large extent, households characterized as energy poor by one method are not classified as such with another. The use of composite indicators adjusted to local circumstances seems to form a more coherent framework for measuring energy poverty in an area and may provide additional information as regards the intensity of energy poverty. The implementation of the two composite indicators developed in the context of this study showed that energy poverty levels in the region of Attica range between 37% and 43.5%. About 27.5% of the households are energy poor with both composite indicators, while the 11.5% of households are characterized by high energy poverty intensity. Also, the analysis of the characteristics of the energy poor households provides useful insights for developing appropriate policies to tackle the problem.