Research Fellow Ana Stojilovska published an article exploring how 20 Ombudspersons in Europe frame their understanding of energy poverty and energy justice, and how this is related to the prevalence of energy poverty in their respective countries. The framing of energy poverty by Ombudspersons in Europe has a grading character. Apart from Ombudspersons that do not mention any energy injustice, the least ambitious framing category is ‘consumer right’, followed by the more ambitious category of ‘social vulnerability’, while the highest level of ambition is reached when Ombudspersons explicitly mention ‘right to energy’ or energy poverty. There is a partial correlation between how Ombudspersons frame energy poverty and the prevalence of energy poverty and energy injustices in their respective countries. In cases where energy poverty is a significant issue, the Ombudspersons usually analyze it, but it is absent from their work in countries where energy poverty is a minor issue. The Ombudsperson is an emerging actor to foster a democratic and socially just energy transition.

Stojilovska, A. (2024). Fostering a democratic and socially just energy transition: How do Ombudspersons in Europe frame energy poverty? Energy Research & Social Science, 107, 103363. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2023.103363

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