Reconnecting Citizens: European Solutions to Energy Poverty: Policy brief

Energy poverty, the inability to provide a home with sufficient energy for heating, cooling, cooking and lighting, has severe health impacts, harming individuals and, by extension, society. Across Europe, 57 million people live with energy poverty. In extreme cases, this may lead to the disconnection of energy supply for these vulnerable households, depriving them of an essential service. Prohibiting disconnections assures a minimum level of protection afforded to European citizens. This measure needs to be supported by local initiatives doing the groundwork of mediating between stakeholders and assisting energy-poor citizens on the journey out of energy poverty.