There is no agreed definition of energy poverty in the EU, as several Member States have adopted different definitions based on their national circumstances.
However, Directive (EU) 2023/1791 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September on energy efficiency established for the first time a common definition of energy poverty:
“the lack of access of a household to essential energy services, where such services are necessary to ensure a basic and decent standard of living and health, including adequate heating, hot water, cooling and lighting and the energy needed for household appliances, taking into account the national context, social policy and other relevant national policies, caused by a combination of factors including at least lack of affordability, insufficient disposable income, high energy expenditure and low energy efficiency of dwellings”.
(Source: DGEG)
