Energy hardship programmes : a systematic cross-country policy analysis of initiatives addressing equity and low-carbon energy services
Rotmann, Sea ; Ashby, Kira and Mundaca, Luis LU
(2025)
In Energy, Sustainability and Society
15.
- Abstract
Background: Energy hardship can be broadly understood as a situation in which individuals or households are unable to afford basic energy services necessary for sustaining their wellbeing. Despite conceptual challenges and overlaps with similar narratives (e.g., fuel poverty), the literature on energy hardship continues to expand. It represents a critical intersection with sustainable energy systems that reveals both challenges and opportunities in the transition towards clean energy solutions. However, few energy hardship programmes have been examined from a policy perspective. Our study aims to address this knowledge gap by providing a systematic analysis of a sample of 67 energy hardship programmes implemented across Australia,... (More)
Background: Energy hardship can be broadly understood as a situation in which individuals or households are unable to afford basic energy services necessary for sustaining their wellbeing. Despite conceptual challenges and overlaps with similar narratives (e.g., fuel poverty), the literature on energy hardship continues to expand. It represents a critical intersection with sustainable energy systems that reveals both challenges and opportunities in the transition towards clean energy solutions. However, few energy hardship programmes have been examined from a policy perspective. Our study aims to address this knowledge gap by providing a systematic analysis of a sample of 67 energy hardship programmes implemented across Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and more than 20 European countries. Guided by specific research questions and supported by directed content analysis, we focus on five areas: dominant policy rationales, main policy goals, supportive policy instruments, stakeholders, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Results: Despite an important degree of heterogeneity among the reviewed programmes, findings revealed commonalities across significant design and implementation areas. Policy rationales often rely on two significant pillars: narratives related to energy poverty (and related concepts), and market barriers and failures related to energy efficiency or decentralised renewable energy systems. Policy goals encompass three distinct areas: finance, knowledge, and technology/infrastructure. Policy instruments supporting energy hardship programmes are predominantly economic in nature. However, the review of programmes reveals a significant gap in robust estimates of cost-effectiveness or economic efficiency. Results also show that the design and implementation of programmes often involve a diversity of stakeholders. The review reveals that there is an abundance of KPIs that can (potentially) support the monitoring and assessment of programmes. Conclusions: Overall, our study reveals significant policy lessons regarding the links, dynamics, and complexities associated with the design and implementation of energy hardship programmes. It underscores the importance of evidence-based evaluations to enhance the ability of policymakers and managers to effectively alleviate the suffering of those facing energy hardship. Results can be of particular interest to countries where policy discussions about energy hardship are emerging, and where there is a need for knowledge to inform decision-making on future programmes that support just and inclusive clean energy transitions.
(Less)
- author
- Rotmann, Sea
; Ashby, Kira
and Mundaca, Luis
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Energy affordability, Energy hardship, Energy vulnerability, Equity, Low-carbon energy services, Policy analysis
- in
- Energy, Sustainability and Society
- volume
- 15
- article number
- 41
- publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105017590517
- ISSN
- 2192-0567
- DOI
- 10.1186/s13705-025-00540-0
- project
- Hard-to-Reach Energy Users
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 625ad8b6-1b05-4ab8-bcaf-03f536e587c0
- date added to LUP
- 2025-10-13 08:39:48
- date last changed
- 2025-10-14 14:11:48
@article{625ad8b6-1b05-4ab8-bcaf-03f536e587c0,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Energy hardship can be broadly understood as a situation in which individuals or households are unable to afford basic energy services necessary for sustaining their wellbeing. Despite conceptual challenges and overlaps with similar narratives (e.g., fuel poverty), the literature on energy hardship continues to expand. It represents a critical intersection with sustainable energy systems that reveals both challenges and opportunities in the transition towards clean energy solutions. However, few energy hardship programmes have been examined from a policy perspective. Our study aims to address this knowledge gap by providing a systematic analysis of a sample of 67 energy hardship programmes implemented across Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and more than 20 European countries. Guided by specific research questions and supported by directed content analysis, we focus on five areas: dominant policy rationales, main policy goals, supportive policy instruments, stakeholders, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Results: Despite an important degree of heterogeneity among the reviewed programmes, findings revealed commonalities across significant design and implementation areas. Policy rationales often rely on two significant pillars: narratives related to energy poverty (and related concepts), and market barriers and failures related to energy efficiency or decentralised renewable energy systems. Policy goals encompass three distinct areas: finance, knowledge, and technology/infrastructure. Policy instruments supporting energy hardship programmes are predominantly economic in nature. However, the review of programmes reveals a significant gap in robust estimates of cost-effectiveness or economic efficiency. Results also show that the design and implementation of programmes often involve a diversity of stakeholders. The review reveals that there is an abundance of KPIs that can (potentially) support the monitoring and assessment of programmes. Conclusions: Overall, our study reveals significant policy lessons regarding the links, dynamics, and complexities associated with the design and implementation of energy hardship programmes. It underscores the importance of evidence-based evaluations to enhance the ability of policymakers and managers to effectively alleviate the suffering of those facing energy hardship. Results can be of particular interest to countries where policy discussions about energy hardship are emerging, and where there is a need for knowledge to inform decision-making on future programmes that support just and inclusive clean energy transitions.</p>}},
author = {{Rotmann, Sea and Ashby, Kira and Mundaca, Luis}},
issn = {{2192-0567}},
keywords = {{Energy affordability; Energy hardship; Energy vulnerability; Equity; Low-carbon energy services; Policy analysis}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
series = {{Energy, Sustainability and Society}},
title = {{Energy hardship programmes : a systematic cross-country policy analysis of initiatives addressing equity and low-carbon energy services}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13705-025-00540-0}},
doi = {{10.1186/s13705-025-00540-0}},
volume = {{15}},
year = {{2025}},
}