Page 34 - European Energy Innovation magazine - autumn 2022 edition

Autumn 2022 European Energy Innovation
34
High energy prices – how municipalities
ENERGY POVERTY

are alleviating energy poverty

By Arthur Hinsch, Sustainable Resources, Climate and Resilience Officer, ICLEI Europe

he energy crisis has a highly While the issue of energy or fuel by the Covenant of Mayors Europe.
visible impact on Europe’s poverty, has gained a huge amount Cities & towns, working with local
citizens who are seeing their of attention due to recent events, organizations, are already on the
Tenergy prices skyrocket. it should not be forgotten that the forefront of mitigating energy poverty,
Inflation and increases in consumer- inability of households to meet their as part of their local climate & energy
prices in Europe have reached domestic energy needs, is not new planning, and carry out targeted
considerable levels. Energy costs and, in 2020 has been affecting 8% of measures based on insights on their
have more than doubled compared the EU’s population. Energy poverty local context and direct contact
to January this year and many is already addressed in a series of with citizens. In Germany, around
citizens are feeling the effects of this EU strategies and legislation such as 120 municipalities actively support
every day. “In the heat of summer, we the Clean Energy for all Europeans the “Electricity-saving Check”. This
have to think of winter”, Commission Package, the Renovation Wave and Fit programme, run by Caritas and
Executive Vice-President Frans for 55 Packages, REPower EU and the the Association of Germany Energy
Timmerman’s words in relation to EU Solar Energy Strategy. Agencies, provides advice on how
the EU’s plan to save gas anticipate citizens can reduce their energy
what might be waiting later this year National governments are responding use and, typically, can reduce their
when energy demand is expected to to the current situation through annual energy bills between 100
increase exponentially due to colder different levers such as tax cuts and 250 Euros. Energy supporters,
temperatures. Nearly all Member and direct financial support while themselves long-term unemployed
States have undertaken measures many municipalities are doubling persons, visit struggling households
to alleviate citizens’ rising energy down on their efforts to reduce and provide short-term energy-
and commodity expenses, although energy consumption as part of savings advice. For citizens suffering
the approach and extent differ their commitment to the Cities from energy poverty it is equally
significantly between the countries. Energy Savings Sprint promoted important to know who they can

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