Energy poverty. What makes Poland an exception compared to other EU countries?

Households are at risk of energy poverty, in which disposable income is less than 60 percent. national average – according to an analysis published on Thursday in the Economic weekly of the Polish Economic Institute.

According to the Pie survey conducted in 2023, energy poverty in Poland in 2022 ranged from 3 percent. up to 40 percent, depending on the accepted indicator – including the technical condition of the building and the sources of heating, the amount and source of the income obtained, the age of farm members or the degree of urbanization of the area. “Energy poverty is a very complex phenomenon, and its assessment must take into account many factors” – the authors of the analysis pointed out.

The publication indicates that in 2019-2023 in Poland the most (by 2.1 percentage points) increased the percentage of energy expenditure in total expenses among those working on their own account – including farmers, as well as among pensioners and pensioners (approx. 14 percent).

The average share of energy expenditure in households in Poland is 9 percent.and as the authors have noted – in rural areas it is only 1 percentage point in rural areas. higher than in urban areas. “Such a low difference in the participation of electricity expenditure and fuel between cities and the village makes Poland an exception compared to other EU countries” – we read in the publication of Pie.

The analysis also quotes the data of the Common Research Center of the European Commission, which shows that among the EU countries the largest average share of energy expenditure in total expenditure (over 12 percent) is recorded by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. EU countries, in which the share of energy expenditure is the highest, also show the largest differences between urban and rural areas. In Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the difference between cities and rural areas exceeds 4 percentage points. On average, in the EU, the share of energy expenditure is 7.1 percent. in rural areas, 6.2 percent in small towns and in the suburbs and 5 percent in cities.

In total – as we read – in the years 2022-2023 the percentage of European Union citizens who were unable to heat their homes sufficiently, increased by 17 percent. – from 41 million in 2022 to 48 million in 2023 and concerned 10.6 percent. EU citizens.

It was stated that rural areas in the EU are characterized by the highest renovation indicator to improve energy efficiency; 29 percent residents of rural areas, 25 percent residents of small towns and suburbs and 23 percent residents of large cities live in houses where renovations were carried out within five years. It comes, among others for improving thermal insulation, replacement of single -chamber windows and replacement of a heat source. “A slightly higher percentage of renovation in the EU rural areas can be caused, among others, by the fact that most (79 percent) of rural buildings are free -standing or twin houses, with lower energy efficiency” – assessed the authors of the publication.

The Polish Economic Institute is a public Think Tank economic; He prepares reports, analyzes and recommendations regarding key areas of the economy and social life in Poland. (PAP)

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