Decision Support Tools for Energy Efficiency Obligated Parties towards Energy Poverty Alleviation

Energy poverty is broadly understood as the inability of households to maintain adequate levels of energy services at an affordable cost, within an economically developed national context. Under the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU), Member States must set up an energy efficiency obligation scheme that requires energy companies to achieve yearly energy savings in terms of annual sales to final consumers (Article 7). As such, energy companies need to design and implement measures that help final consumers improve the energy efficiency of their dwellings. A share of measures is required to be implemented as a priority among vulnerable households, including those affected by energy poverty, and where appropriate, in social housing. In this context, the aim of this paper is to present decision support tools to help utilities and energy suppliers effectively: (a) identify energy poor households; (b) select the most appropriate schemes to include under their Energy Efficiency Obligation and elaborate Energy Poverty Action Plans; (c) monitor their effectiveness and evaluate their impact. In this way, the proposed tools support utilities and energy suppliers to fulfil their energy efficiency obligations, as well as improve public relations, promote Corporate Social Responsibility strategies, reduce debt and overhead in managing debt and enhance their public image.