Energy Poverty Advisory Hub Annual Conference

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Programme

Over two days, participants engaged in a rich programme combining strategic vision with practical exchange. Inspiring keynote contributions, interactive sessions, peer-learning opportunities, and a site visit showcasing ongoing initiatives in Athens created a unique space for knowledge-sharing and collaboration. 

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Conclusions

Consumer Protection and Empowerment

• Participants, including representatives of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union and national representatives from Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Portugal and France,  as well as institutions like the European Economic and Social Committee welcomed the actions of the recently published Citizens Energy Package, especially those on reducing energy bills, increasing energy efficiency and fighting energy poverty. Stakeholders called for their swift implementation and urged the Commission to speed and scale up the protection of vulnerable citizens.
• Fairness and equality should remain at the core of the energy transition. As underlined by the Citizens Energy Package, addressing energy poverty and protecting vulnerable consumers is crucial for ensuring all citizens have access to clean and affordable energy. Policy guidance, financial support, and practical initiatives are needed to effectively tackle the multifaceted challenges of energy poverty, protect individuals from disconnections, and improve their overall living conditions.
• Empowering citizens, particularly those in a low income or a situation of energy poverty, allows for their active participation in the energy market and supports access to affordable, clean energy. Citizens need to be equipped with the necessary tools to understand and manage their energy consumption, access renewable and therefore less volatile energy prices, and implement energy efficiency solutions. One-stop shops at local level are a crucial instrument for this. Trust was highlighted as the fundamental condition to enable more active consumer participation – either to seek for support when facing vulnerable situations or to actively participate in the market.  

Multi-level Governance

• Fostering transparent and coordinated action across European, national, and local governance levels is essential to effectively tackle energy poverty. Comprehensive strategies and localised support are pivotal in addressing energy poverty, as highlighted by the latest EPAH Inspirational Cases - From Local Innovation to Structural Action. 

• Local authorities play a crucial role in combatting energy poverty. Their proximity to affected communities enables them to implement targeted strategies and innovative solutions that address specific local challenges. By fostering collaboration with national bodies, sharing best practices, and leveraging technical assistance programmes like the ones offered by EPAH, local authorities can enhance their efforts in identifying and supporting vulnerable groups. 

• National authorities are integral to shaping comprehensive strategies to combat energy poverty and achieve a just energy transition. Through ambitious and comprehensive energy poverty strategies integrated with coherent national plans (such as National Energy and Climate Plans, Social Climate Plans and National Building Renovation Plans), national measures can ensure effective protection of vulnerable categories.

• Energy poverty offices and observatories drive coordinated action against energy poverty by supporting evidence-based policymaking at EU, national and local al levels. Their role in data collection, monitoring and stakeholder engagement, helps aligning national strategies with the needs of local communities and fosters multi-level governance collaboration. Giving clear legal mandates to these observatories and embedding them into planning cycles enhances policy coherence and operational outcomes of energy poverty measures. 

Financial Opportunities to Tackle Energy Poverty

• Access to energy efficient dwellings and appliances is one of the ways to address the root causes of energy poverty as it improves the quality of life and reduces energy bills. 

• Accelerating public and private investments in an efficient energy system is critical to reducing energy costs for households, increasing EU energy resilience and security.

• Existing public instruments and tools, such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Social Climate Fund, and Cohesion Policy funds as well as the European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition, provide a strong basis for funding renovations and energy efficiency. Future EU and national public instruments should be better tailored to provide innovative solutions and to mobilise private investments, as public funding alone is insufficient to bridge the financial gap.

Session Summaries

• High-level Panel Session | Inclusive Solutions for a Just Transition 
  • Speakers highlighted common cross-country challenges, including administrative complexity, data gaps, and infrastructure limitations, which hinder effective action
  • Identifying and targeting vulnerable households remains a key challenge, underscoring the need for clearer definitions, stronger data systems, better cross-sector coordination.
  • The session stressed that solutions must be locally driven and people-centred, combining financing with hands-on implementation, community engagement, and trust building.
• Panel Discussion | How National Energy Poverty Observatories Can Support Both Local and National Governments 
  • National observatories play a key role in data collection, monitoring, and linking national strategies with local action. 
  • There is a need for more comparable data and indicators across countries, while allowing for national flexibility. 
  • The impact of national observatories depends on strong policy integration and coordination across governance levels. 
• Panel Discussion | Unlocking Financial Opportunities to Tackle Energy Poverty in Europe
  • A key gap exists between available funding and uptake by vulnerable households, driven by risk perception and low trust.
  • Trusted intermediaries, such as local authorities or One Stop Shops, are essential to support access to finance.
  • Strengthening links between financial tools, policy goals, and real needs is critical to scale impact.
• Site Visit | Energy Poverty Alleviation Office
  • Participants enjoyed a well-organised guide visit to the Energy Poverty Alleviation Office to learn first-hand about the status of energy poverty in Athens as well as the impact of successful energy poverty initiatives across the city  and local actions that have made a significant difference in its community.

To learn more about key takeaways, read our conference summary article here.

Presentations

Below you can access the speaker presentations from Day two sessions. 

Panel Discussion | Mapping and Measuring Energy Poverty Locally: From Data, Models, and Composite Indicators to Stakeholder-driven Solutions

• Dr. Sofia-Natalia Boemi, Senior Expert, Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy 
• Emanuele Cocchi, Researcher, Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico 
• Dimitris Papantonis, Research Associate, University of Piraeus Research Center 
• Alexandra Wegscheider-Pichler, SDG-Energy Poverty Project Manager, Statistics Austria

Workshop | How Integrated Energy Renovations Can Reach Vulnerable Households: Practical Approaches to Financing, Engagement, and Demand Reduction

• Marta Schulte Fischedick, Energy Specialist, Austrian Energy Community Secretariat 
• Vojtech Klézl, Associate Professor, Inland Norway University
• Branislava Marsenic Maksimovic, ECRB Natural Gas and Customer Expert, Energy Community Secretariat
• Ana Belén Gómez Minguela, Urban Researcher / Architect, CARTIF Technology Centre

Workshop | Leave No One Behind: What Role Can Energy Communities Play in Tackling Energy Poverty?

• Chris Vrettos, Senior Policy Advisor, REScoop.eu 
• Dr. Lidija Živčič, Senior Expert, FOCUS
• Sandy Fameliari, Project Manager, Electra Energy Cooperative
• Irene González-Pijuan, Policy Officer, Enginyeria Sense Fronteres
• Technical Assistance Overview - Citizen Energy Advisory Hub Representative

Panel Discussion | Digitalisation of Energy Poverty Services: Limits and Opportunities

• Stefano Fava, Head of Grant Unit, Planet Smart City 
• Athanasios Lampropoulos, Project Manager, Cluster of Bioeconomy & Environment of Western Macedonia 
• Mònica Plana Izquierdo, Director of Social Inclusion, Welfare and Development Association 
• Cristina Ramos, Co-Director, Ecoserveis 
• Cristina Chiva Alonso, Social Policy Technician, Diputació de Barcelona 
• Martin Berghold, Project Manager, Social Energy Community Developer & Informal Learning Consultant, STRATECO

Workshop | From Policy to Practice: Co-creating Solutions for Energy-poor Households

• Valentina Alberti, Senior Project Officer, FEDARENE – EU Covenant of Mayors 
• Lesly Mercedes Barriga Delgado, Project Officer, FEDARENE – BIRTUOSS Project
• Stefan Pallantzas, Civil Engineer & Board President, Hellenic Passive House Institute 
• Angela Gaitani, Head of Projects, Athens Energy Poverty Alleviation Office 
• Avgi Gonou, Sustainability Expert, Athens Energy Poverty Alleviation Office 
• Andoni Hidalgo Simón, International Affairs Consultant, BIRTUOSS Project

Workshop | Tackling Energy Vulnerability among Women and Youth: Co-creating Solutions for Overlooked Groups

• Maria Bellou, Policy Officer, European Youth Energy Network 
• Emma de Haan, Policy Officer, European Youth Energy Network 
• Dr. Mariëlle Feenstra, Scientific Director, 75inQ 
• Federica Ragazzo, RETE ASSIST