Social tariff http://www.eppedia.eu/ en Cyprus: Protection of energy consumers http://www.eppedia.eu/article/cyprus-protection-energy-consumers <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Cyprus: Protection of energy consumers</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/authors/serghides-despina" hreflang="en">Serghides Despina</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/authors/kyprianou-ioanna" hreflang="en">Kyprianou Ioanna</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>ute.dubois</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Wed, 09/15/2021 - 09:16</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-affiliation--article.html.twig * field--node--field-affiliation.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-affiliation.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-affiliation field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Affiliation</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/107" hreflang="en">The Cyprus Institute (Cyprus)</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-first-published-date--article.html.twig * field--node--field-first-published-date.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-first-published-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-first-published-date field--type-datetime field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">First published date</div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2021-09-15T12:00:00Z">2021.09.15</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-theme--article.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-theme field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Theme</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/145" hreflang="en">Consumer protection</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/61" hreflang="en">Vulnerable consumers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/36" hreflang="en">Disconnections</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/81" hreflang="en">Social tariff</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-article-download--article.html.twig * field--node--field-article-download.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-article-download.html.twig * field--file.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-article-download field--type-file field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Article download</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'file_link' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/file-link.html.twig' --> <span class="file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf icon-before"><span class="file-icon"><span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-file text-primary" aria-hidden="true"></span></span><span class="file-link"><a href="http://www.eppedia.eu/sites/default/files/2021-09/Serghides-Kyprianou_2021_Cyprus_protection%20of%20energy%20consumers_EPpedia.pdf" type="application/pdf; length=93304" title="Open file in new window" target="_blank">Serghides-Kyprianou_2020_Cyprus_protection of energy consumers_EPpedia</a></span><span class="file-size">91.12 KB</span></span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/file-link.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-page-elements--article.html.twig * field--node--field-page-elements.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-page-elements.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-page-elements field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--pb-text-block--default.html.twig * paragraph--pb-text-block.html.twig * paragraph--default.html.twig * paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph--pb_text_block.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-text-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-8 col-sm-offset-2"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--paragraph--field-text--pb-text-block.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-text.html.twig * field--paragraph--pb-text-block.html.twig * field--field-text.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><h2><strong>Perspective on protection of energy consumers in the policy debate</strong></h2> <p>Energy consumers in Cyprus are protected by means of two measures: disconnection prohibition for specific groups of vulnerable individuals in special circumstances and a special electricity tariff available to vulnerable consumer groups defined according to national legislation (Kyprianou &amp; Serghides, 2020). Both measures concern electric power, which is the only source of energy distributed on a nationwide grid.</p> <p>Prohibition of disconnection in critical periods was implemented as a temporary measure in 2014 and was available to a wide range of vulnerable consumers, as specified within Decree 218/2013 on the Law for the Regulation of Electricity Market (Kyprianou et al., 2019; MCIT, 2013). In 2015 this measure became permanent and was revised to apply only to vulnerable consumers living in life-threatening conditions (MECIT, 2015).</p> <p>The special electricity tariff has been offered to a wide range of vulnerable consumers since 2006 and is financed from a surcharge on the electricity bills of all other consumers (a public service obligation) (Kyprianou &amp; Serghides, 2020). In the period 2013-2016 it was revised several times in order to better specify (and expand) the groups of vulnerable individuals allowed to benefit from it. For example, individuals suffering from multiple sclerosis and those using haemodialysis have been officially recognized as groups of vulnerable consumers entitled to the special tariff (EAC, 2018). A new ministerial order is expected to be released in 2020, revising definitions of qualifying vulnerable consumer groups and imposing income criteria (Mesimeris et al., 2020).</p> <p>The abovementioned measures are framed within legislation regarding the regulation of the electricity market and are linked to the definition of vulnerable consumers (Cyprus Parliament, 2012). Vulnerable consumers are linked to energy poverty in the legislation on the regulation of the electricity market (Cyprus Parliament, 2012, p. 79); however, there is no mention of minimum or maximum amounts of energy consumption allowed per individual or for specific groups of vulnerable consumers. Therefore, although measures are superficially linked to energy poverty in Cyprus, they are not directed specifically to energy vulnerable consumers but instead to an array of individuals vulnerable to poverty in general.</p> <p> </p> <h2><strong>Research perspective on protection of energy consumers in the policy debate</strong></h2> <p>At the moment there has been no academic research published on the protection of energy consumers in policy debates. Data can be found on the EPOV database of knowledge and resources (EPOV, 2018).</p> <p> </p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph--pb_text_block.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--pb-references--default.html.twig * paragraph--pb-references.html.twig * paragraph--default.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-references paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--paragraph--field-text--pb-references.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-text.html.twig * field--paragraph--pb-references.html.twig * field--field-text.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">References</div> <div class="field--item"><p>Cyprus Parliament. (2012). Law amending the regulatory electricity market legislation (in Greek) (Vol. 211). Retrieved from <a href="http://www.cylaw.org/nomoi/arith/2012_1_211.pdf">http://www.cylaw.org/nomoi/arith/2012_1_211.pdf</a></p> <p>EAC. (2018). Beneficiaries of Tariff with Code 08. Retrieved May 8, 2018, from <a href="https://www.eac.com.cy/EL/CustomerService/Tariffs/Pages/dikaiouxi08.aspx">https://www.eac.com.cy/EL/CustomerService/Tariffs/Pages/dikaiouxi08.aspx</a></p> <p>EPOV. (2018). Knowledge &amp; Resources. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.energypoverty.eu/knowledge-resources">https://www.energypoverty.eu/knowledge-resources</a></p> <p>Kyprianou, I., &amp; Serghides, D. (2020). Dealing with energy poverty in Cyprus–an overview. International Journal of Sustainable Energy, 39(4), 308–320. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14786451.2019.1699560">https://doi.org/10.1080/14786451.2019.1699560</a></p> <p>Kyprianou, I., Serghides, D., Varo, A., Gouveia, J., Kopeva, D., &amp; Murauskaite, L. (2019). Energy poverty policies and measures in 5 EU countries: A comparative study. Energy and Buildings, 196, 46–60. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.05.003">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.05.003</a></p> <p>MCIT. (2013). Law for the Regulation of Electricity Market of 2003 to 2012 (in Greek) (Vol. 211). Retrieved from <a href="http://www.cylaw.org/KDP/data/2013_1_218.pdf">http://www.cylaw.org/KDP/data/2013_1_218.pdf</a></p> <p>MECIT. (2015). Ministerial Order for Vulnerable Electricity Consumers 289/2015 (in Greek). Retrieved from <a href="https://www.cera.org.cy/Templates/00001/data/nomothesia/ethniki/hlektrismos/Diatagmata/kdp2015_289.pdf">https://www.cera.org.cy/Templates/00001/data/nomothesia/ethniki/hlektrismos/Diatagmata/kdp2015_289.pdf</a></p> <p>Mesimeris, T., Kythreotou, N., Menelaou, M., Rousos, C., Karapitta-Zachariadou, C., Partasides, G., … Kleanthous, A. (2020). Cyprus’ Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan. Retrieved from <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/cy_final_necp_main_en.pdf">https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/cy_final_necp_main_en.pdf</a></p></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comments--article.html.twig * field--node--field-comments.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-comments.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <div class="comments_wrapper"> <section class="container"> </section> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-article-citation-info--article.html.twig * field--node--field-article-citation-info.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-article-citation-info.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-article-citation-info field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Citation instruction</div> <div class="field--item"><p>Serghides, D. and Kyprianou, I. (2020) Cyprus: protection of energy consumers. <em>EP-pedia, ENGAGER COST Action.</em></p></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> Wed, 15 Sep 2021 09:16:08 +0000 ute.dubois 250 at http://www.eppedia.eu http://www.eppedia.eu/article/cyprus-protection-energy-consumers#comments Consumers access to affordable energy sources in Cyprus http://www.eppedia.eu/article/consumers-access-affordable-energy-sources-cyprus <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Consumers access to affordable energy sources in Cyprus</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/authors/serghides-despina" hreflang="en">Serghides Despina</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/authors/kyprianou-ioanna" hreflang="en">Kyprianou Ioanna</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>ute.dubois</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Tue, 03/16/2021 - 21:56</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-affiliation--article.html.twig * field--node--field-affiliation.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-affiliation.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-affiliation field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Affiliation</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/107" hreflang="en">The Cyprus Institute (Cyprus)</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-first-published-date--article.html.twig * field--node--field-first-published-date.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-first-published-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-first-published-date field--type-datetime field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">First published date</div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2021-02-22T12:00:00Z">2021.02.22</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-last-updated-date--article.html.twig * field--node--field-last-updated-date.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-last-updated-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-last-updated-date field--type-datetime field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Last updated date</div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2021-03-22T12:00:00Z">2021.03.22</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-theme--article.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-theme field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Theme</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/68" hreflang="en">Affordability</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1" hreflang="en">Electricity</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/63" hreflang="en">Gas</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/81" hreflang="en">Social tariff</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-article-download--article.html.twig * field--node--field-article-download.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-article-download.html.twig * field--file.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-article-download field--type-file field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Article download</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'file_link' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/file-link.html.twig' --> <span class="file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf icon-before"><span class="file-icon"><span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-file text-primary" aria-hidden="true"></span></span><span class="file-link"><a href="http://www.eppedia.eu/sites/default/files/2021-03/Serghides%20%26%20Kyprianou_2021_Consumers%20access%20to%20affordable%20energy%20sources%20in%20Cyprus_EP-pedia.pdf" type="application/pdf; length=107366" title="Open file in new window" target="_blank">Serghides &amp; Kyprianou_2021_Consumers access to affordable energy sources in Cyprus</a></span><span class="file-size">104.85 KB</span></span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/file-link.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-page-elements--article.html.twig * field--node--field-page-elements.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-page-elements.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-page-elements field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--pb-text-block--default.html.twig * paragraph--pb-text-block.html.twig * paragraph--default.html.twig * paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph--pb_text_block.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-text-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-8 col-sm-offset-2"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--paragraph--field-text--pb-text-block.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-text.html.twig * field--paragraph--pb-text-block.html.twig * field--field-text.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><h2><strong>Perspective on consumers’ access to affordable energy sources in the policy debate of Cyprus</strong></h2> <p>Consumers in Cyprus do not have alternatives when it comes to selecting electricity suppliers or plans that are affordable and still fulfill their needs. The electricity market in Cyprus is monopolized by the state-owned Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) that generates and provides 100% of the island’s electricity. The electricity market was partly liberalised in 2004 (35% for the wholesale component of the market) and even further in 2009 (65%). The Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) has proposed liberalisation of the Cyprus electricity market by July 1, 2019. At the moment there are no competitors to EAC, which still remains the sole electricity supplier of the domestic market. This was a major issue in 2011 when an explosion at one of the major power stations of EAC resulted in serious supply issues and selective power cuts throughout the island. Moreover, energy companies wishing to supply electricity in the near future would need to submit an application to CERA and obtain a corresponding license (Oosterhuis, 2013). In recent developments, several companies have obtained generating and supplying licenses to compete in the electricity market against EAC, utilizing mainly petroleum and solar technologies – with the provisions to expand to natural gas (CERA, 2020). Therefore, in 2020 and 2021 a number of key projects, currently under tendering or implementation, are expected to materialize (Mesimeris et al., 2020). The full liberalisation of the electricity market is expected to attract investors and eventually offer lower costs for domestic electricity.</p> <p>The gas market is currently non-existent in Cyprus. According to EU directives, Cyprus qualifies and is classified as an emerging market for natural gas and also as an isolated market. The Natural Gas Public Company (DEFA), set up and controlled by the state, is the sole distributor, of any form of natural gas, in Cyprus i.e. DEFA is totally responsible for the Cyprus Internal Gas Market. Moreover, the gas sector is expected to follow a fully monopolistic model for a period of at least 10 years (Natural Gas Public Company (DEFA), 2012).</p> <p>As for the services that may alleviate costs of electricity, the EAC offers installation of storage heaters and promotion of prosumers (consumers who generate electricity mainly via photovoltaics) via net metering. There is also a special tariff targeting vulnerable consumer groups, as specified in the relative legislation for the regulation of the electricity market (EAC, 2018a). The cost of the special tariff is covered by public service obligations (PSOs), imposed on all non-vulnerable consumers in Cyprus (EAC, 2018b). Significantly, at the moment there are no contract limitations on the amount of energy the vulnerable consumers are allowed to consume. This has possible implications such as excess costs in PSOs as a consequence of uncontrolled consumption at the special tariff. This special tariff was introduced in 2006 as a result of the relative <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32003L0054">EU Directives 2003/54/EC</a> and <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32003L0055">2003/55/EC</a> stipulating that member states should protect consumers against inability to pay their bills and therefore mitigate energy poverty. The regulations governing the tariff were revised in 2013, 2015 and 2016 towards increasingly refined definitions of groups of vulnerable consumers, without necessarily resulting in decreased group sizes. According to the National Energy and Climate Plan for Cyprus, categories of vulnerable consumers will be expanded, introducing income criteria and this will be announced within 2020 through a new Order (Mesimeris et al., 2020); something which is still anticipated due to public health-related delays.</p> <p> </p> <h2><strong>Research perspective on consumers’ access to affordable energy sources in Cyprus</strong></h2> <p>At the moment there has been no academic research published on this topic. Data on consumer access to affordable energy sources can be found on the EPOV database of knowledge and resources  (EPOV, 2018).</p> <p> </p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph--pb_text_block.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--pb-references--default.html.twig * paragraph--pb-references.html.twig * paragraph--default.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-references paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--paragraph--field-text--pb-references.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-text.html.twig * field--paragraph--pb-references.html.twig * field--field-text.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">References</div> <div class="field--item"><p>CERA. (2020). <em>Electricity - Registry of Licenses</em>.</p> <p>EAC. (2018a). <em>Beneficiaries of Tariff with Code 08</em>.</p> <p>EAC. (2018b). <em>Public Service Obligations (P.S.O.)</em>.</p> <p>EPOV. (2018). <em>Knowledge &amp; Resources</em>.</p> <p>Mesimeris, T., Kythreotou, N., Menelaou, M., Rousos, C., Karapitta-Zachariadou, C., Partasides, G., Antoniou, T., Hadjinikolaou, N., Piripitsi, K., Kalaika, A., Christophidou, A., Chandriotis, M., Papageorgiou, G., Chrysaphis, M., Ellinopoulos, C., Stougiannis, E., Sotirelis, A., Lambrinos, M., Psyllides, D., … Kleanthous, A. (2020). <em>Cyprus’ Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan</em>.</p> <p>Natural Gas Public Company (DEFA). (2012). <em>The Energy Market in Cyprus: Natural Gas Changing the Picture</em>.</p> <p>Oosterhuis, F. (2013). <em>IVM Institute for Environmental Studies Budgetary support and tax expenditures for fossil fuels</em>. <em>January</em>, 58.</p></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comments--article.html.twig * field--node--field-comments.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-comments.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <div class="comments_wrapper"> <section class="container"> </section> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-article-citation-info--article.html.twig * field--node--field-article-citation-info.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-article-citation-info.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-article-citation-info field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Citation instruction</div> <div class="field--item"><p>Serghides, D. &amp; Kyprianou, I. (2021) Consumers’ access to affordable energy sources in Cyprus, EP-pedia, ENGAGER COST Action.</p></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> Tue, 16 Mar 2021 21:56:49 +0000 ute.dubois 240 at http://www.eppedia.eu http://www.eppedia.eu/article/consumers-access-affordable-energy-sources-cyprus#comments Screening of best practices in Spain http://www.eppedia.eu/article/screening-best-practices-spain <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Screening of best practices in Spain</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/authors/antepara-inigo" hreflang="en">Antepara Iñigo</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>ute.dubois</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Sun, 01/31/2021 - 19:22</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-affiliation--article.html.twig * field--node--field-affiliation.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-affiliation.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-affiliation field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Affiliation</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/93" hreflang="en">University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU) (Spain)</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-first-published-date--article.html.twig * field--node--field-first-published-date.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-first-published-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-first-published-date field--type-datetime field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">First published date</div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2021-01-31T12:00:00Z">2021.01.31</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-last-updated-date--article.html.twig * field--node--field-last-updated-date.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-last-updated-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-last-updated-date field--type-datetime field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Last updated date</div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2021-01-31T12:00:00Z">2021.01.31</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-theme--article.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-theme field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Theme</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/94" hreflang="en">Best practices</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/81" hreflang="en">Social tariff</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/87" hreflang="en">Covid-19</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/95" hreflang="en">Energy advice</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/96" hreflang="en">General framing</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/97" hreflang="en">Curative measures</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/98" hreflang="en">Preventive measures</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-article-download--article.html.twig * field--node--field-article-download.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-article-download.html.twig * field--file.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-article-download field--type-file field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Article download</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'file_link' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/file-link.html.twig' --> <span class="file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf icon-before"><span class="file-icon"><span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-file text-primary" aria-hidden="true"></span></span><span class="file-link"><a href="http://www.eppedia.eu/sites/default/files/2021-01/Antepara_2021_Screening%20of%20best%20practices%20in%20Spain_EP-pedia.pdf" type="application/pdf; length=138694" title="Open file in new window" target="_blank">Antepara_2021_Screening of best practices in Spain_EP-pedia</a></span><span class="file-size">135.44 KB</span></span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/file-link.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-page-elements--article.html.twig * field--node--field-page-elements.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-page-elements.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-page-elements field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--pb-text-block--default.html.twig * paragraph--pb-text-block.html.twig * paragraph--default.html.twig * paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph--pb_text_block.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-text-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-8 col-sm-offset-2"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--paragraph--field-text--pb-text-block.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-text.html.twig * field--paragraph--pb-text-block.html.twig * field--field-text.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><h2>Perspective on best practices in the policy debate</h2> <p>The social tariff for electricity in Spain was first approved in 2009. On 6 October 2017 (Marbán and Rodríguez 2018), the Spanish parliament approved Royal Decree 897/2017, which legislates on the definition of vulnerable consumers, social bonuses and other protective measures for domestic consumers of electrical energy. So, within Spanish energy poverty policy, social policy typically takes the form of financial assistance but energy vulnerability is only defined for the case of the electricity market. Low-income households have to apply for the social tariff; it is not awarded automatically.</p> <p>There is an energy poverty <a href="https://www.gipuzkoa.eus/es/web/ingurumena/energia/observatorio-pobreza-energetica">observatory in the province of Guipuzcoa</a>, but no national energy poverty observatory. In 2018, the Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid, created the <a href="https://www.comillas.edu/es/catedra-de-energia-y-pobreza">Chair of Energy and Poverty</a> with the collaboration of a group of companies in the energy sector and social partners.</p> <p>In October 2018, the new Spanish government launched the Climate Change and Energy Transition Bill (Gobierno de España, 2018), including some minor changes in the previous electricity social tariff, and announcing the new “heating social bonus” for the beginning of 2019, which will be linked to the electricity social tariff. The Law was finally approved in 2020.</p> <p>Until 2019, no public institution was producing statistics regarding the situation of energy poverty in Spain, except the aforementioned observatory in the north of Spain, and some municipalities. This function has otherwise been carried out by a private non-institutional association, ACA (<a href="https://www.cienciasambientales.org.es/index.php/iniciope">Asociación de Ciencias Ambientales</a>), without public support.</p> <p>Approved by the Spanish Government in March 2019, the National Strategy against Energy Poverty 2019 - 2024 (Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica, 2019) seeks to address a situation that affects between 3.5 and 8.1 million citizens, with a goal of reducing the values of current energy poverty indicators by at least 25% and ideally by 50%. Some best practices from other European countries are included in the document approved, such as the financial mechanisms in UK (<em>Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment, etc.</em>) and the automatic qualification of eligible households for social tariffs as in Portugal, the energy efficiency programs in France (<em>Habiter mieux</em>) and also in UK (<em>Warm Front Scheme</em>), and the institutional body in France (<em>L'Observatoire National de la Précarite Énergétique</em> [ONPE]).</p> <p>During the Covid-19 crisis, as part of an aid package, Spain introduced a new beneficiary category for its social tariff for electricity, i.e., self-employed workers who lost their job (Mastropietro et al. 2020). The government has also automatically extended the social electricity tariff until 30 September 2020, as it has to be renewed every 2 years, so that vulnerable beneficiaries do not have to go to administrative offices to maintain their enrolment. Furthermore, the Royal Decree-Law 11/2020 has extended, until 9 May 2021, the prohibition on interrupting the supply of electrical energy in homes that are considered to be first homes. The deadlines for utilities against households not paying their bills in this period are scheduled to start from that date.</p> <p>Two regional institutions, one in Aragon and the other in Cataluña, tried to promote laws against energy poverty in 2015. In the Catalan region, the <a href="http://pobresaenergetica.es/es/">Alliance Against Energy Poverty</a> (APE) was very active against the issue, and was the first civil society alliance to raise the problem of energy poverty to public debate. In 2016, the public reaction to this unjust situation was ignited by the tragic death of 81-year-old Rosa from the city of Reus, who died in a fire caused by a candle she was using to light her home after Naturgy (former Gas Natural Fenosa) had cut off her electricity. As a consequence, Catalan government tried to give answer to the claims of APE, but the Spanish government did not allow Catalan law going ahead.</p> <p>At a municipal level, the city of Cádiz is one of the more active and has its own Plan of Action against energy poverty. The Cádiz City Council promoted the <a href="https://www.opendemocracy.net/tni/julio-camacho/tc-cadiz-energy-poverty">Cádiz Energy Transition Working Group</a> for civil society participation, as well as the Working Group on Energy Poverty. Both were set up to find ways to achieve a fair energy transition. Local energy forums and surveys are being used to ensure that the needs, knowledge and experiences of ordinary people are prioritised in creating this transition. Cádiz is one of the few cities in Spain to have its own municipal energy company, Eléctrica de Cádiz, which supplies and distributes electricity. Now established activists working within the local party are attempting to transform the company into an institution run by and for the city’s inhabitants. In 2018, in just three months, the plan has run 60 workshops, given 640 people training on energy issues, and advised 70 families in their homes, reducing their electricity bills by 20-50%.</p> <p>Barcelona launched its own municipal energy company, <a href="https://energia.barcelona/en/barcelona-energia-municipal-electricity-company">Barcelona Energy</a>, in 2018. This is a public metropolitan electricity operator that supplies renewable electricity to the City Council and other municipal companies, as well as street lighting. Among its goals, it was stated to “have an active role in the energy market to make it more fair, efficient and sustainable”. This includes providing electricity to families in difficulties.</p> <p>In contrast to the insufficient response of the Spanish government, some private institutions, most of them around the third sector, were pioneers in this field. For example, Ecoserveis participated in the first European project: <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/projects/en/projects/epee">European Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency</a> (EPEE) over 10 years ago.</p> <p> </p> <h2>Private institutions contribute to best practices formulation</h2> <p>Best practices come mainly from private associations, filling in some of the gaps in public policy.</p> <h3><strong>General framing</strong></h3> <p>As mentioned above, the only research studies on energy poverty in Spain were produced by ACA (<em>Asociación de Ciencias Ambientales</em>). These were supported by a crowdfunding campaign.</p> <p>Other collaborations between civil society associations, such as <a href="http://www.nuevomodeloenergetico.org/pgs2/">Platform for a New Energy Model</a>, are active in the public debates related to energy poverty in Spain.</p> <h3><strong>Advocacy</strong></h3> <p>Since its inception, APE has worked to stop water and energy supply cuts in Catalonia, and have confronted the large multinationals of the water, electricity and gas sectors to demand access to water and energy. For APE, access to basic supplies such as energy and water is a fundamental human right. Together with the PAH (<a href="http://www.energy-democracy.net/?p=1131">Platform for People Affected by Mortgages</a>) and the Observatory DESC, as well as many other entities and groups, APE has worked to promote and pass a law that has stopped more than 40,000 supply cuts in Catalonia. APE has developed into a mutual support network that accompanies affected people, and an important channel for political education and change.</p> <h3><strong>Curative measures</strong></h3> <p>The three oldest associations working in this field, ECODES, ACA and ECOSERVEIS, have multiple programs and activities. We include here the three Spanish winners of the "Social Innovation to Tackle Fuel Poverty" programme – i.e. ECODES, ACA and AEIOLUZ – and two additional interesting initiatives. The following serves only as an example of initiatives.</p> <p><a href="https://niunhogarsinenergia.org/">ECODES</a> – an organisation that runs the project “<em>Ni un hogar sin energía</em>” (“No home without energy”), which offers a technological solution to overcome fuel poverty. Its website includes a questionnaire that manages to gather social, household, and energy contract data from vulnerable people and returns a personalised report with advice on how to reduce energy consumption and energy costs. It also offers an interactive map that allows anyone to find initiatives and subsidies to tackle fuel poverty in their city or region.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cienciasambientales.org.es/index.php/iniciopice">ACA</a> – an organisation working on PICE (<em>Puntos de Información al Consumidor Energético</em>) networks to empower people in the use of domestic energy and reduce the risk of falling into fuel poverty. It is a network of information points composed by heterogeneous organisations that provide information to their population from their own premises.</p> <p><a href="https://aeioluz.com/pobreza-energetica/">AEIOLUZ</a> – an energy service provider cooperative that aims to end energy poverty and serve as a tool to change the current model towards a more sustainable one. It focuses on energy counselling and training for schools, municipalities, NGOs, and private companies to learn about energy efficiency, renewable energies, active energy management, and intelligent energy networks.</p> <p><a href="https://habitatge.barcelona/en/housing-services/problems-paying-your-home/energy-rights">ECOSERVEIS</a> – if not the first working on energy poverty in Spain, one of the first. The city council of Barcelona built a joint initiative with the third sector to promote insertion of long-term unemployed people while fighting against fuel poverty; it thus deals with information obstacles and at the same time improves the capabilities of long-term unemployed. It follows the same approach as the Soleni project in Grenoble (France). A similar idea was funded by the European Commission, the Energy Check for Low Income Households (EC-LINC)</p> <p><a href="https://www.slideshare.net/HarrietThomson/collaboration-with-social-services-to-analyse-data-from-energy-bills-and-advice-best-electricity-tariffs-of-designated-households">GoiEne</a>r – an energy cooperative that does not manage contracts of families in a situation of fuel poverty as they cannot offer the social tariff (as it is a non-reference retailer), but engaged in a collaboration with the social services of two municipalities to help low-income households in tariff switching. After reviewing household energy bills, GoiEner organised workshops in energy advice, aiming to build an autonomous dynamic at the social services. To do so, social services and families were trained on the issue of electricity bills. The basic idea is to start the dynamics of the intervention and afterwards it will continue alone with minimum assistance from GoiEner.</p> <h3><strong>Preventive measures</strong></h3> <p>To the author's knowledge, there is little interesting currently available in the realm of preventative measures for energy poverty, such as renovation programs of the building stock that aim to target low-income households. Some local programs exist, although there is no national plan, and none of the local programs are focused on families in difficulties. Nothing focusing on private rental situations exists.</p> <p>Discussion on the side effects of low-carbon policies is not yet on the agenda. Within the discussion of the energy transition in Spain, the fact that low-income families do not normally have access to direct benefits of these low-carbon programmes, and may even suffer adverse effects such as low-carbon gentrification, has not yet been taken into account.</p> <p> </p> <h2>Research perspective on best practices in Spain</h2> <p>The following is a list of on-going projects, interesting from the point of view of the author.</p> <h3><strong>General framing</strong></h3> <p>Fortunately, there are works taking into account gender aspects of energy poverty in Spain (Sánchez et al. 2020), e.g. thanks to Carmen Sánchez-Guevara, a researcher at the Technical University of Madrid. Also, within the H2020 call LC-SC3-EC-2-2018-2019-2020 - Mitigating household energy poverty, the project “Empowering women to take action against energy poverty in the Mediterranean” was approved. Project participants include the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Energy Research Institute of Catalonia (IREC), and the Catalan chapter of Engineers Without Borders (in close relationship with APE).</p> <p>Taking into account the dynamic role women play in an economy, the EmpowerMed programme will connect women with health practitioners in a series of awareness pilot programmes to reduce energy poverty, assess its impact on health, and share knowledge for policy building at local and EU-wide level.</p> <p>For more information: <a href="https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/847052">https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/847052</a></p> <p>Supported by the European Union, the Urban Innovative Action's EPIU (Energy Poverty Intelligence Unit) is being carried out in Getafe (Madrid, Spain). Apart from the municipality of Getafe, the Technical University of Madrid, the utility Naturgy, and ACA are also participating in the project.</p> <p>Getafe's main challenge is to identify and fight hidden energy poverty (HEP). Between 15% and 30% of the Getafe's population could be affected by energy poverty, although only 1991 families seek support from the City Council. Energy poverty is usually defined by the percentage of rent that a household dedicates to energy consumption, but for EPIU energy poverty implies that people are unable to keep their household at a comfortable temperature whether it is because they cannot pay for a sufficient amount of energy for its domestic needs and/or because it is forced to allocate an excessive part of its income to these needs. This situation is aggravated by the economic situation of Getafe, whose average income is €5071 lower than the rest of the Madrid Region. In addition, 52% of its current housing stock was built between the 1960s and 1980s with low quality and energy efficiency standards and without heating systems in most cases. The city has two Urban Deprived Areas and Neighbourhoods declared as critical areas for the rehabilitation and regeneration by Madrid’s regional government. These two areas have an increased incidence of energy poverty and are inhabited mainly by elderly and migrants.</p> <p>For more information: <a href="https://www.uia-initiative.eu/en/uia-cities/getafe">https://www.uia-initiative.eu/en/uia-cities/getafe</a></p> <p>Studies on children and energy poverty have also been initiated (Gonzalez, 2020), thanks to Irene Gonzalez and the Catalan chapter of Engineers Without Borders.</p> <h3><strong>Curative measures</strong></h3> <p>Also, within the H2020 call LC-SC3-EC-2-2018-2019-2020 the project “Empowering Energy Poor Citizens through Joint Energy Initiatives” was awarded to GoiEner energy cooperative, among others.</p> <p>The main objective of POWERPOOR is to develop support programmes/schemes for energy poor citizens and to encourage the use of alternative financing schemes (e.g. establishing energy communities / cooperatives, crowd funding).</p> <p>Members of energy cooperatives are a key part of the whole history of energy poverty alleviation, including both worker-member as well as members volunteering, building a volunteer-assisted energy advisory mechanism in the choice of electricity tariffs/prices to support social services working with vulnerable households.</p> <p>For more information: <a href="https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/890437">https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/890437</a></p> <h3><strong>Preventive measures</strong></h3> <p>Led by the Andalusian Energy Agency, the European Commission approved the POWERTY project in the framework of the Interreg Europe 2014-2020 Programme.</p> <p>The general objective of POWERTY is to increase the use of renewable energies in vulnerable groups. This way, thanks to the project, new renewable energy installations will be facilitated to provide safe and clean energy to vulnerable households. In addition, POWERTY will encourage companies supplying renewable energies to offer technological solutions that are adapted to vulnerable groups, activating their corporate social responsibility.</p> <p>For more information: <a href="https://www.interregeurope.eu/powerty/">https://www.interregeurope.eu/powerty/</a></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph--pb_text_block.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--pb-references--default.html.twig * paragraph--pb-references.html.twig * paragraph--default.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-references paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--paragraph--field-text--pb-references.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-text.html.twig * field--paragraph--pb-references.html.twig * field--field-text.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">References</div> <div class="field--item"><p>ASOCIACIÓN, D. C. A. (2016). Pobreza energética en España. Nuevos enfoques de análisis.</p> <p>ASOCIACIÓN, D. C. A. (2018). Pobreza energética en España. Hacia un sistema de indicadores y una estrategia de actuación estatales.</p> <p>Antepara, I., Claeye, F. (2016) "Examples of Social Business effectively addressing Fuel Poverty by overcoming the barriers when implementing Energy Efficiency measures", Social Business Academia Conference, November 2016, Paris (France)</p> <p>Antepara, I., Claeye, F., Lopez, A., Robyns, B. (2020) "Fighting against fuel poverty by collaborating with social services through energy advice: An innovative case from Spain", Gizarte Ekonomiaren Euskal Aldizkaria/Revista Vasca de Economía Social, 2020, 17, 71-96</p> <p>Marbán, V. Rodríguez, G. (2018) EUROPEAN SOCIAL POLICY NETWORK Flash Report 2018/13</p> <p>Gabiola, E. J., Gázquez, J. D. P., &amp; Rodríguez, J. A. S. (2016). El bono social y las cooperativas energéticas verdes: situación y perspectivas. REVESCO. Revista de Estudios Cooperativos, (122), 165-190.</p> <p>Gobierno de España (2018), “Proyecto de Ley de cambio climático y transición energética”. Available at <a href="http://www.congreso.es/public_oficiales/L14/CONG/BOCG/A/BOCG-14-A-19-1.PDF">http://www.congreso.es/public_oficiales/L14/CONG/BOCG/A/BOCG-14-A-19-1.PDF</a></p> <p>Gonzalez, I. (2020) Impacts of energy precariousness on children and adolescents. Engineering without Border. Available at <a href="https://bit.ly/ESFeres27-Summary-Eng">https://bit.ly/ESFeres27-Summary-Eng</a></p> <p>Mastropietro, P., Rodilla, P., &amp; Batlle, C. (2020). Emergency Measures to Protect Energy Consumers During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Global Review and Critical Analysis. Energy Research &amp; Social Science, Volume 68, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101678">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101678</a></p> <p>Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica (2019) Estrategia nacional contra la pobreza energética 2019-2024. Available at <a href="https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/prensa/estrategianacionalcontralapobrezaenergetica2019-2024_tcm30-496282.pdf">https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/prensa/estrategianacionalcontralapobrezaenergetica2019-2024_tcm30-496282.pdf</a></p> <p>Sánchez, C. S. G., Fernández, A. S., &amp; Peiró, M. N. (2020). Feminisation of energy poverty in the city of Madrid. Energy and Buildings, Volume 223. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110157">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110157</a></p> <p>Sifres, V. P., Rodrigo, P. L., &amp; Aristizábal, A. B. (2016). Supporting Grassroots-Led Initiatives in the Spanish Energy Field Through Transformative Education for Sustainable Development. In Engaging Stakeholders in Education for Sustainable Development at University Level (pp. 61-76). Springer, Cham.</p> <p>Tirado, S., &amp; Jiménez Meneses, L. (2016). Energy poverty, crisis and austerity in Spain. People, Place and Policy, 10(1), 42-56. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3351/ppp.0010.0001.0004">https://doi.org/10.3351/ppp.0010.0001.0004</a></p></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comments--article.html.twig * field--node--field-comments.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-comments.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <div class="comments_wrapper"> <section class="container"> </section> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-article-citation-info--article.html.twig * field--node--field-article-citation-info.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-article-citation-info.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-article-citation-info field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Citation instruction</div> <div class="field--item"><p>Antepara, I. (2021). Screening of best practices in Spain. <em>EP-pedia, ENGAGER COST Action.</em></p></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> Sun, 31 Jan 2021 19:22:38 +0000 ute.dubois 230 at http://www.eppedia.eu http://www.eppedia.eu/article/screening-best-practices-spain#comments Affordability of energy for the general population and for specific groups in Portugal http://www.eppedia.eu/article/affordability-energy-general-population-and-specific-groups-portugal <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--article.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>Affordability of energy for the general population and for specific groups in Portugal</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-author--article.html.twig * field--node--field-author.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-author.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-author field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Author</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/authors/gouveia-joao-pedro" hreflang="en">Gouveia João Pedro </a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/authors/palma-pedro" hreflang="en">Palma Pedro</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--article.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span>ute.dubois</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--article.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Thu, 01/28/2021 - 07:21</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-affiliation--article.html.twig * field--node--field-affiliation.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-affiliation.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-affiliation field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Affiliation</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/116" hreflang="en">CENSE – Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, Department of Science and Environmental Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon (Portugal)</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-first-published-date--article.html.twig * field--node--field-first-published-date.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-first-published-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-first-published-date field--type-datetime field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">First published date</div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2021-01-28T12:00:00Z">2021.01.28</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-last-updated-date--article.html.twig * field--node--field-last-updated-date.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-last-updated-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-last-updated-date field--type-datetime field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Last updated date</div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2021-01-28T12:00:00Z">2021.01.28</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/system/templates/time.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-theme--article.html.twig * field--node--field-theme.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-theme.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-theme field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Theme</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/68" hreflang="en">Affordability</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/81" hreflang="en">Social tariff</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/36" hreflang="en">Disconnections</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-article-download--article.html.twig * field--node--field-article-download.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-article-download.html.twig * field--file.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-article-download field--type-file field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Article download</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'file_link' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/file-link.html.twig' --> <span class="file file--mime-application-pdf file--application-pdf icon-before"><span class="file-icon"><span class="icon glyphicon glyphicon-file text-primary" aria-hidden="true"></span></span><span class="file-link"><a href="http://www.eppedia.eu/sites/default/files/2021-01/Gouveia%20%26%20Palma_2021_affordability%20in%20Portugal_EP-pedia.pdf" type="application/pdf; length=111204" title="Open file in new window" target="_blank">Gouveia &amp; Palma_2021_affordability in Portugal</a></span><span class="file-size">108.6 KB</span></span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/file-link.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-page-elements--article.html.twig * field--node--field-page-elements.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-page-elements.html.twig * field--entity-reference-revisions.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-page-elements field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--pb-text-block--default.html.twig * paragraph--pb-text-block.html.twig * paragraph--default.html.twig * paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph--pb_text_block.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-text-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-8 col-sm-offset-2"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--paragraph--field-text--pb-text-block.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-text.html.twig * field--paragraph--pb-text-block.html.twig * field--field-text.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><h2><strong>Context </strong></h2> <p>Energy affordability is closely related to the population income levels and the energy services that can be afforded with said income, thus involving also the energy carriers’ prices. In 2019, the adjusted gross disposable income of Portuguese households per capita in purchasing power standard (PPS) was €19 569, below the EU average of €23 388, placing in the bottom half of the EU member states list (Eurostat, 2020a). In the same year, the country had a Gini index (which measures income distribution inequality) of 31.9%, above the EU average of 30.2 %. (Eurostat, 2020b). An index of 0 represents total equality, whereas 100% represents maximum inequality. Income distribution ratio is also a useful indicator to understand inequalities, namely concerning the purchasing power of the population. It is the ratio between the total income of the 20% of the population with the highest income and the 20 % of the population with the lowest income. Portugal has the eighth highest income distribution ratio in the EU, above the EU average (Eurostat, 2020c). Moreover, 17.2% of the population was at risk of poverty in 2019, also higher than the European rate (16.5%) (Eurostat, 2020d). As for energy prices, in the first half of 2020, natural gas and electricity prices for household consumers with all taxes and levies included were respectively the first and fourth highest for household consumers in the EU-27, in PPS, well above the EU average (Eurostat, 2020e; Eurostat, 2020f). The low incomes, coupled with high energy prices, results in a higher risk of significant energy poverty levels in the population.</p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph--pb_text_block.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--pb-full-width-image--default.html.twig * paragraph--pb-full-width-image.html.twig * paragraph--default.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-full-width-image paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--paragraph--field-pg-image--pb-full-width-image.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-pg-image.html.twig * field--paragraph--pb-full-width-image.html.twig * field--field-pg-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-pg-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/image/templates/image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image_style' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/image/templates/image-style.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/inline_image_full_width/public/2021-01/Table%201.png?itok=5xtPoTLM" width="1200" height="645" alt="Table 1: Income-related Indicators for Portugal and the EU-27" loading="lazy" class="img-responsive" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/system/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/image/templates/image-style.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/image/templates/image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--paragraph--field-pg-caption--pb-full-width-image.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-pg-caption.html.twig * field--paragraph--pb-full-width-image.html.twig * field--field-pg-caption.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-pg-caption field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Table 1: Income-related Indicators for Portugal and the EU-27</div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--pb-text-block--default.html.twig * paragraph--pb-text-block.html.twig * paragraph--default.html.twig * paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph--pb_text_block.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-text-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-8 col-sm-offset-2"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--paragraph--field-text--pb-text-block.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-text.html.twig * field--paragraph--pb-text-block.html.twig * field--field-text.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><h2><strong>Perspective on energy affordability measures in Portugal</strong></h2> <p>Portugal's only policy measures that directly target energy poverty are the social electricity and natural gas tariffs. The electricity and gas tariff are an automatic social support consisting of a discount on the standard tariff for access to respectively the low voltage electricity networks and low-pressure natural gas for households. Around 800 000 households have this support (19% of all households). These households are identified automatically through the social welfare system (ADENE; 2019). The eligibility criteria for the electricity social tariff are: location exclusively being used for domestic use in permanent housing, with a contracted electrical power at a low voltage of 6.9 kVA or less, and receiving one of six different welfare support schemes. These schemes are: 1) solidarity supplement for the elderly; 2) social insertion income; 3) social unemployment allowance; 4) family allowance; 5) disability pension; 6) social pension of old age. However, even if a household does not receive any social support, it can benefit from this social rate if the household's total annual income is equal to or less than 5 808 €, plus 50% for each household member (up to a maximum of 10) who do not have any income. For the natural gas social tariff, the criteria are similar, with the household also having to be exclusively used for domestic use, having low-pressure gas, with an annual natural gas consumption of 500 m3 or less, and to be receiving one of the following supports from the social welfare system: 1) solidarity supplement for the elderly; 2) social insertion income; 3) social unemployment allowance; 4) family allowance (first step); 5) disability pension. Approved in November 2020, the Decree-law nr.100/2020 has extended the social energy tariffs for the unemployed and invalid pensioners. These tariffs improve energy affordability of financially vulnerable consumers, since they reduce the energy bill. Nevertheless, they do not tackle any of the causes of energy poverty, thus being short-term measures to a persistent problem.</p> <p>In Portugal, generally there are no measures providing disconnection protection, except for extraordinary situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where disconnections were suspended. For the general population, the deadline to pay an energy bill, before the power is cut, is 10 business days counting from the date when the bill is delivered. For vulnerable consumers, selected according to the same criteria as in the social tariff, the deadline is extended to 20 business days. Unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic, and on a more permanent basis, in November 2020, a new regulation was approved, introducing the reduction of the contracted power before disconnection, thus giving more time for the consumer to pay the debt. The government has recently reduced the VAT tax on electricity consumption from 23% to 13% for the first 100 kWh consumed, or the first 150kWh for large families (five or more persons). For the fixed component of the bill, related to the contracted power and gas volume, VAT tax was reduced from 23% to 6% in 2019, for power up to 3.45kVA and low-pressure consumptions up to 10 000m3.</p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph--pb_text_block.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="field--item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'paragraph' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * paragraph--pb-references--default.html.twig * paragraph--pb-references.html.twig * paragraph--default.html.twig x paragraph.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph.html.twig' --> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-references paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--paragraph--field-text--pb-references.html.twig * field--paragraph--field-text.html.twig * field--paragraph--pb-references.html.twig * field--field-text.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">References</div> <div class="field--item"><p>ADENE. (2019). Pobreza Energética em Debate [Energy Poverty in Debate]. Agência para a Energia [Portuguese Energy Agency]. Available at: <a href="https://www.adene.pt/pobreza-energetica-em-debate/">https://www.adene.pt/pobreza-energetica-em-debate/</a></p> <p>Decree-law nr. 100/200 of 26 of November, from the Ministry of the Environment and Climatic action. Official Gazette nr. 231. Presidency of the Council of Ministers.</p> <p>Eurostat (2020b). Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income - EU-SILC survey. Database. Available at: <a href="https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_di12&amp;lang=en">https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=ilc_di12&amp;lang=en</a></p> <p>Eurostat. (2020a). Adjusted gross disposable income of households per capita in PPS. Database. Available at: <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/product/view/tec00113?lang=en">https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/product/view/tec00113?lang=en</a></p> <p>Eurostat. (2020c). Income distribution. Database. Available at: <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/product/view/sdg_10_41?lang=en">https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/product/view/sdg_10_41?lang=en</a></p> <p>Eurostat. (2020d). At-risk-of-poverty rate. Database. Available at: <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/product/view/tespm010?lang=en">https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/product/view/tespm010?lang=en</a></p> <p>Eurostat. (2020e). Electricity prices for household consumers - bi-annual data (from 2007 onwards). Database. Available at: <a href="https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=nrg_pc_204&amp;lang=en">https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=nrg_pc_204&amp;lang=en</a></p> <p>Eurostat. (2020f). Gas prices for household consumers - bi-annual data (from 2007 onwards). Database. Available at: <a href="https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=nrg_pc_202&amp;lang=en">https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=nrg_pc_202&amp;lang=en</a></p></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/paragraph.html.twig' --> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/system/links.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-comments--article.html.twig * field--node--field-comments.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-comments.html.twig x field--comment.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <div class="comments_wrapper"> <section class="container"> </section> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/epptheme/templates/field--comment.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-article-citation-info--article.html.twig * field--node--field-article-citation-info.html.twig * field--node--article.html.twig * field--field-article-citation-info.html.twig * field--text-long.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-article-citation-info field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Citation instruction</div> <div class="field--item"><p>Gouveia and Palma (2021) Affordability of energy for the general population and for specific groups in Portugal, <em>EP-pedia, ENGAGER COST Action.</em></p></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> Thu, 28 Jan 2021 07:21:58 +0000 ute.dubois 221 at http://www.eppedia.eu http://www.eppedia.eu/article/affordability-energy-general-population-and-specific-groups-portugal#comments