Social policy or energy policy? Time to reconsider energy poverty policies

Abstract

In this short communication piece, we draw attention to the discussion on policies for reducing energy poverty in European Union member states. We urgently need a policy approach able to support the transition from the current rising levels of energy poverty to a sustainable community with a greener and healthier future. Analysing energy prices, the policy framework and household income, we conduct a preliminary investigation of energy poverty from a macro-level perspective and associated policy interventions in the EU. Obtained from a non-classical fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, our results clearly show that energy poverty is a product of substantial interdependence that may be summarised in two paths: (PP1) low or median household income and energy-policy focus, and (PP2) high energy prices and energy-policy focus. Surprisingly, our findings indicate that an energy-policy focus is found in EU member states with the highest levels of energy poverty. One step further, we also offer an insight into the absence of energy poverty, where social policy seems to play the key role. Taken together, we argue that member states facing above-average energy poverty are captured in an energy-poverty trap, whereby the existing energy-policy focus does not yield the desired results and the social policy is often too costly to implement due to the problem's magnitude. Our main concern is that prioritising any of the policies may slow down the transition to a sustainable energy society. We, therefore, call on scientists to not only further examine the energy-poverty phenomenon but to also participate in creating effective policies.