Geographies of energy poverty and vulnerability in the European Union

Until recently, the suggestion that significant parts of the population may be suffering from a distinctive form of poverty due to being unable to access adequate energy services in the home was a non-issue among politicians and academics in much of the European Union. The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland were the only two EU states where the material existence and political voice of the ‘fuel poor’ were widely recognized in public debates, policies and research. During the past few decades, both of these countries have developed a range of safety nets to supporthouseholds who struggle to pay their energy bills, while offering various assistance schemes (led by the state, charitable organizations and businesses) to invest in the energy efficiency of residential housing, especially among low income households.