Long-Term National Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty 2023-2050
About Energy Poverty
Understand what Energy Poverty is and what actions are being implemented to eradicate this problem.
What is Energy Poverty?
Energy poverty refers to a household's lack of access to essential energy services, when such services provide basic and decent standards of living and health. These services include adequate heating, hot water, cooling, and lighting, as well as the energy needed for household appliances.
Energy poverty currently affects a significant number of families
in Portugal, and is not only a situation exclusive to families in economic need, but also includes families who, in order to avoid energy costs, adopt practices of restricted use, thereby also compromising their comfort and well-being.
Associated factors and their impact
Energy poverty is a complex and multidimensional problem resulting from a combination of factors, ranging from poor energy efficiency in buildings to the socioeconomic conditions of households and high energy bills.
Low income
Household income is crucial to ensuring a comfortable and healthy home environment. Energy costs can be a significant part of the family budget.
Payment difficulties
Difficulties in paying bills and, as a result, possible service cuts affect domestic comfort and the mental and emotional well-being of families.
Difficulty accessing adequate energy services
Lack of access to essential energy services can have a significant impact on families' quality of life. Without adequate heating, hot water, or proper lighting, people's comfort and safety are compromised.
Health problems
The inability to keep the home warm in winter and cool in summer can lead to health problems such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Excess mortality during periods of extreme heat and cold is one of the most dramatic consequences of energy poverty.
Low energy performance of homes
Homes with low energy performance, especially those with inadequate thermal insulation, consume more energy to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Increased bills
The use of electrical equipment to maintain thermal comfort in homes can result in excessively high energy bills, or very sporadic and measured use.
Low levels of energy literacy
Informed consumers can improve thermal comfort at home, opt for sustainable energy, and lower their bills. Knowing your rights and the support available can help improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Environmental and financial impact
A lack of energy literacy hinders the adoption of more sustainable energy sources, contributing to increased greenhouse gas emissions and higher expenses due to poor energy management.
Strategies and plans
The challenge set by the European Commission to resolve the problem of energy poverty led Portugal to implement the Long-Term National Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty 2023-2050, with the aim of eradicating energy poverty in Portugal by 2050.
The strategy aims to protect vulnerable consumers, who are identified as domestic energy consumers facing economic, social, or health difficulties and who are possibly in a situation of energy poverty. The goal is to actively involve these consumers in the energy and climate transition in a fair, democratic, and cohesive manner.
As part of this Strategy, the National Observatory on Energy Poverty was created, whose main mission is to actively monitor national levels of energy poverty and develop public policies for its eradication, such as the Action Plans to Combat Energy Poverty.
The 4 strategic priorities
Action in this area aims to increase the energy efficiency of housing and decarbonise consumption.
This strategic priority aims to reduce the number of households experiencing difficulties in paying for energy services and to protect the most vulnerable consumers.
This strategic priority aims to strengthen local structures in combating energy poverty and providing high energy performance public housing, through coordinated action between the State and municipal provision.
This strategic priority focuses on improving the identification of families in energy poverty, promoting energy literacy, and stimulating research, innovation, and training of professionals in housing rehabilitation.
Learn more about Portugal's plans and strategies to tackle energy poverty.
The Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG) is the public entity responsible for contributing to the design, promotion, and evaluation of policies related to energy and geological resources, with a view to sustainable development and ensuring security of supply.
ADENE - Agência para a Energia (Energy Agency) is a Portuguese non-profit association dedicated to activities of public interest in the areas of energy, energy efficiency, and efficient water use. It collaborates with public administration bodies and raises public awareness of energy issues and their environmental impact.