A study conducted by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES Portugal) indicates that one in five people in Portugal, or 19% of the population, struggles to afford the energy required to meet their household needs. The findings were released as part of the report titled “Energy Poverty in Europe – Who are the losers in our energy system?”, which analyzed data from the European gEneSys project.
The research compared energy poverty levels across six countries: Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Sweden. Portugal recorded the second-highest rate of energy poverty among the group, trailing only France at 25%. Italy and Poland followed with 18% each, while Germany and Sweden reported 13% and 10%, respectively.
The study identified specific demographic and social factors that increase vulnerability to energy poverty. In Portugal, women, individuals with mental health issues, and those residing outside of major urban centers were found to be at the highest risk. Specifically, 22% of Portuguese women reported difficulty paying for energy, compared to 15% of men. Conversely, individuals with higher levels of education living in large cities reported the lowest incidence of energy poverty, at 7%.
Researchers noted a correlation between physical or psychological health limitations and increased exposure to energy poverty. This is attributed to both higher energy requirements for medical equipment or heating and the impact of living in substandard housing conditions. Additionally, the study highlighted that residents in rural areas are more affected than those in urban centers, citing the prevalence of less energy-efficient single-family homes and a greater reliance on private vehicles in rural regions.
The data, based on responses from 17,889 participants across the six countries, was presented in Lisbon during a seminar organized by FES Portugal in partnership with the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG) and the National Observatory for Energy Poverty.
While the authors described the analysis as exploratory rather than definitive, they suggested that the identified patterns should inform public policy. Proposed measures include income-adjusted energy subsidies, the energy rehabilitation of rental properties, the expansion of social tariffs, and targeted support for individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities.