Official narratives vs. lived experiences: Contrasting views on energy poverty in the Czech Republic

Abstract

In the Czech Republic, energy poverty assessments have primarily relied on traditional indicators. Despite performing well compared to other countries in the region, there is a risk that those suffering from energy poverty are misrecognized and receive insufficient support. This research aims to bring a missing perspective on households' lived experiences and connect it to official narratives on energy poverty. We examine the interplay among material, non-material factors in households' experiences, and external ‘contextual soup’, and reveal major challenges. The contrast between households' experiences and prevailing assumptions about energy poverty may pose difficulties finding a workable solution. However, in the face of the current energy crisis, we call for a joint effort between the state and non-state sectors to find appropriate tools to address the growing risk of households falling into and being trapped in energy poverty.