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Fuel poverty in industrialized countries: Definition, measures and policy implications a review

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  • Charlier, Dorothée
  • Legendre, Bérangère

Abstract

Energy poverty currently affects a significant number of European households, representing a growing problem in the EU. But fuel poverty is not an easily understood phenomenon and requires a well-structured definition, which takes into account all relevant issues, and a corresponding measure based on available data to develop the most appropriate policies. The aim of our research is to present the existing approaches to fuel poverty, which are often used in the formulation of policy, presenting the advantages and disadvantages particularly regarding policy interventions. Some of the approaches are broad, and do not propose any quantitative measure of fuel poverty, while others are more precise and result in quantitative indicators. As a main result, we show that two main families of policy tools can be developed: affordability policy - reducing the proportion of income households need to spend on energy - and efficiency policy - retrofitting dwellings to make them more energy efficient.

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  • Charlier, Dorothée & Legendre, Bérangère, 2021. "Fuel poverty in industrialized countries: Definition, measures and policy implications a review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:236:y:2021:i:c:s0360544221018053
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.121557
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    5. Croon, T.M. & Hoekstra, J.S.C.M. & Elsinga, M.G. & Dalla Longa, F. & Mulder, P., 2023. "Beyond headcount statistics: Exploring the utility of energy poverty gap indices in policy design," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
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    8. Chien, Fengsheng & Sadiq, Muhammad & Li, Li & Sharif, Arshian, 2023. "The role of sustainable energy utility, natural resource utilization and waste management in reducing energy poverty: Evidence from South Asian countries," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).

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