Indicators & Data

Energy poverty is a multi-dimensional concept that is not easily captured by a single indicator. Our approach to measuring energy poverty has been to use a suite of indicators, which should be viewed and used in combination. Each indicator captures a slightly different aspect of the phenomenon. Our intention is that these indicators should be used to give a snapshot of energy poverty issues, which can then be explored in more detail in research and action projects.

Primary Indicators

EPOV provides four different primary indicators for energy poverty, of which two are based on self-reported experiences of limited access to energy services (based on EU-SILC data) and the other two are calculated using household income and/or energy expenditure data (based on HBS data).

Primary indicator graph

Arrears on utility bills

Share of (sub-) population having arrears on utility bills, based on question "In the last twelve months, has the household been in arrears, i.e. has been unable to pay on time due to financial difficulties for utility bills (heating, electricity, gas, water, etc.) for the main dwelling?"

Hidden energy poverty (HEP)

The HEP indicator presents the share of households whose absolute energy expenditure is below half the national median. HEP is a relatively new indicator that has been used in Belgian to complement other expenditure and self-reported indicators. Note: this indicator is influenced by the underlying distribution of absolute energy expenses in the lower half of households. If the median is relatively high and the distribution below very unequal, the HEP indicator is high.

High share of energy expenditure in income (2M)

The 2M indicator presents the proportion of households whose share of energy expenditure in income is more than twice the national median share. Note: where income distributions are more equal, variance in energy expenditure translates to higher 2M shares. High variance in energy/income shares can occur due to structural differences in energy expenditure between household groups, as well as in situations where energy is often, but not exclusively, included in rent.

Inability to keep home adequately warm

Share of (sub-) population not able to keep their home adequately warm, based on question "Can your household afford to keep its home adequately warm?"

Secondary Indicators

EPOV gathers data on a number of secondary indicators that are relevant in the context of energy poverty, but not directly indicators of energy poverty itself. Indicators include e.g. energy prices and housing-related data. Their development can be compared to the development of primary indicators in the graph tool when selecting a single country.

Secondary indicator graph

Fuel oil prices

Average household prices per kWh generated from fuel oil

Biomass prices

Average household prices per kWh generated from biomass

Coal prices

Average household prices per kWh generated from coal

Household electricity prices

Electricity prices for household consumers, band DC 2500-5000 kWh/yr consumption, all taxes and levies included

District heating prices

Average household prices per kWh from district heating

Household gas prices

Natural gas prices for household consumers, band 20-200GJ consumption, all taxes and levies included

Dwelling comfortably cool during summer time

Share of population, based on question “Is the cooling system efficient enough to keep the dwelling cool?” and/or “Is the dwelling sufficiently insulated against the warm?”

Number of rooms per person, owners

Average number of rooms per person in owned dwellings

Dwelling comfortably warm during winter time

Share of population, based on question "Is the heating system efficient enough to keep the dwelling warm?" and "Is the dwelling sufficiently insulated against the cold?"

Number of rooms per person, renters

Average number of rooms per person in rented dwellings

Dwellings in densely populated areas

Share of dwellings located in densely populated areas (at least 500 inhabitants/km2)

Number of rooms per person, total

Average number of rooms per person in all dwellings

Dwellings in intermediately populated areas

Share of dwellings located in intermediately populated areas (between 100 and 499 inhabitants/km2)

Poverty risk

People at risk of poverty or social exclusion (% of population)

Dwellings with energy label A

Share of dwellings with an energy label A

Energy expenses, income quintile 1

Consumption expenditure for electricity, gas and other fuels as a share of income for income quintile 1

Energy expenses, income quintile 2

Consumption expenditure for electricity, gas and other fuels as a share of income for income quintile 2

Energy expenses, income quintile 3

Consumption expenditure for electricity, gas and other fuels as a share of income for income quintile 3

Energy expenses, income quintile 4

Consumption expenditure for electricity, gas and other fuels as a share of income for income quintile 4

Energy expenses, income quintile 5

Consumption expenditure for electricity, gas and other fuels as a share of income for income quintile 5

Equipped with air conditioning

Share of population living in a dwelling equipped with air conditioning facilities

Equipped with heating

Share of population living in a dwelling equipped with heating facilities

Excess winter mortality/deaths

Share of excess winter mortality/deaths

Presence of leak, damp, rot

Share of population with leak, damp or rot in their dwelling, based on question "Do you have any of the following problems with your dwelling / accommodation?

  • a leaking roof
  • damp walls/floors/foundation
  • rot in window frames or floor

Recently updated sources

ESTAT indicators 
Last update: 03 Jul 2018