The 22nd EPAH Lunch Talk explored how the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) Technical Assistance can support local authorities to diagnose, plan and/or implement actions to tackle energy poverty. A total of 58 participants joined the session, moderated by Dora Biondani (EPAH Team), with contributions from Marina Kyriakou (Cyprus Energy Agency) and João Pedro Gouveia (CENSE, NOVA University Lisbon | EPAH Team).
The session was organised in the context of the recently opened third Call for EPAH Technical Assistance, running until 17 April 2026. It combined an overview of the call with two practical examples illustrating how Technical Assistance can strengthen local capacity, structure evidence and inform follow-up actions beyond the Technical Assistance period. beyond the Technical Assistance period.
Marina Kyriakou presented the experience of Kato Pyrgos Tyllirias, a small agricultural and touristic community located in a remote area of Cyprus. The community has approximately 1,200 residents, with the population doubling during the summer months. Around 20 percent of residents are elderly, and many live in energy-inefficient buildings, increasing vulnerability to extreme temperatures.
The Technical Assistance was implemented from September 2023 to June 2024 and focused on capacity building for local authority staff, structured data collection and analysis to identify energy poverty in the community, and the identification of priority actions. A methodological toolkit was developed and adapted to the local context to support surveys, structured data collection and analysis, and the provision of advice to specific target groups. Two social care employees, previously unfamiliar with energy-related topics, received mentoring and training from the Cyprus Energy Agency. Subsequently,paper-based household surveys were conducted across 100 households to collect data on housing conditions, energy use and thermal comfort, covering 100 households.
The diagnostic phase generated structured evidence on local conditions. A key finding was that only 4% of the surveyed households reported having insulated roofs. This evidence informed subsequent planning discussions and later contributed to the inclusion of a roof insulation sponsorship mechanism in the business plan of an energy community established after the conclusion of the Technical Assistance.
The Technical Assistance also strengthened coordination among local stakeholders and supported the development of a joint Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) with four neighbouring communities. Following this process, the local authority became a signatory of the Covenant of Mayors.
Reflecting on the longer-term perspective, Ms Kyriakou clarified that the Technical Assistance did not directly result in the creation of the local energy community. Rather, it acted as a catalyst, laying the groundwork, strengthening local capacity and enabling follow-up opportunities informed by the diagnostic findings.
The surveys also identified transport poverty as an additional local challenge, linked to limited public transport connectivity and restricted access to employment opportunities. While not addressed through immediate measures, this issue was recognised as a relevant area for future local action.
João Pedro Gouveia began by presenting five previous EPAH Technical Assistances implemented in Portugal. These included an assessment of energy poverty in a rural area based on interviews and local-level data collection, support for the development of an inclusive renewable energy community, monitoring of indoor temperature and humidity conditions in households, and cooperation between regional energy agencies, local authorities and health centres, involving doctors and nurses in identifying and referring vulnerable households to relevant local support services.
Mr Gouveia then focused on the Transition Point Next2U model, a mobile physical one-stop shop hosted in a renovated maritime shipping container. The EPAH TA supported the replication of this model across four municipalities. Designed as a replicable support system, it combines the diagnosis of energy poverty with personalised advice and assistance to vulnerable households, while linking advisory services with access to available national funding schemes for energy renovation.
The one-stop shop provides information on improving thermal comfort and reducing energy expenses, while offering free practical support, rather than explicitly framing its work around energy poverty. This approach was highlighted as important for building trust and community engagement. Its services include counselling on electricity and gas bills, support on energy contracting, identification of technical and behavioural measures, scheduling of free home energy assessments and support in formalising funding applications. A key component is the role of transition agents - local community members who receive training and carry out home visits using measurement kits.
With the support of EPAH Technical Assistance, the Transition Point Next2U model was replicated across four municipalities. Results presented during the Lunch Talk included 366 visitors, 256 home energy assessments, 131 vulnerable consumers identified as eligible for public funding, and 112 days of operation, totalling 854 hours of support.
Mr Gouveia emphasised the importance of aligning advisory services with access to available funding schemes for energy renovation, noting that advisory structures alone are insufficient without funding mechanisms that enable households to act on the recommendations received.
During the discussion, participants raised questions regarding the methodological choice of structured surveys rather than interviews in the Cyprus case. Ms Kyriakou explained that the approach built on previous experience with structured home visit tools and allowed for clearer trend analysis. Surveys were conducted on paper and implemented by trained local authority staff following demonstration visits and mentoring.
Questions also addressed trust-building in the Portuguese case. Mr Gouveia explained that the project tested different locations and engagement approaches and highlighted the importance of collaboration with trusted local intermediaries, including municipal services, civil parishes and social organisations already working with vulnerable households.
The 22nd EPAH Lunch Talk showcased two previous examples of EPAH Technical Assistance, highlighting how municipalities can use the support to strengthen capacity, build evidence and unlock follow-up action. With the third Call for EPAH Technical Assistance now open until 17 April 2026, the session offered practical inspiration for local authorities considering applying.
Details
- Publication date
- 7 April 2026