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Energy affordability and the benefits system in Italy

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  • Miniaci, Raffaele
  • Scarpa, Carlo
  • Valbonesi, Paola

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss a number of ways to define and measure the affordability of energy consumption, and we examine the emergence of energy poverty in Italy in the period from 1998 to 2011. The paper examines the eligibility criteria for claiming the benefits available to support energy consumption for vulnerable families and it identifies the potential beneficiaries. The study assesses the appropriateness of the eligibility criteria by comparing the population targeted by the policy with the population actually facing affordability problems. A simulation exercise, using the hypothetical scenario most likely to result in energy benefits being made available, shows that, regardless of the affordability index adopted, the provision of state energy benefits has little impact on fuel poverty.

Suggested Citation

  • Miniaci, Raffaele & Scarpa, Carlo & Valbonesi, Paola, 2014. "Energy affordability and the benefits system in Italy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 289-300.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:75:y:2014:i:c:p:289-300
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2014.09.008
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    2. Chiara Certomà & Filippo Corsini & Marina Di Giacomo & Marco Guerrazzi, 2023. "Beyond Income and Inequality: The Role of Socio-political Factors for Alleviating Energy Poverty in Europe," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 169(1), pages 167-208, September.
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    5. Betto, Frida & Garengo, Patrizia & Lorenzoni, Arturo, 2020. "A new measure of Italian hidden energy poverty," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    6. Alfonso Carfora & Renato Passaro & Giuseppe Scandurra & Antonio Thomas, 2022. "The Casual Nexus between Income and Energy Poverty in EU Member States," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-16, April.
    7. Teotónio, C. & Martins, R. & Antunes, M. & Quintal, C., 2023. "Unveiling underconsumption of water and electricity services at the bottom of the income distribution," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    8. Domínguez Olabide, Peru, 2018. "Pobrezia energetikoa neurtzeko adierazleen errebisio kritiko bat," Revista de Dirección y Administración de Empresas, Universidad del País Vasco - Escuela Universitaria de Estudios Empresariales de San Sebastián.
    9. Llorca, Manuel & Rodriguez-Alvarez, Ana & Jamasb, Tooraj, 2020. "Objective vs. subjective fuel poverty and self-assessed health," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    10. Li, Lanlan & Luo, Xuan & Zhou, Kaile & Xu, Tingting, 2018. "Evaluation of increasing block pricing for households' natural gas: A case study of Beijing, China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 162-172.
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    12. Arjun Mahalingam & David M. Reiner, 2016. "Energy Subsidies at Times of Economic Crisis: A Comparative Study and Scenario Analysis of Italy and Spain," Working Papers EPRG 1603, Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
    13. Grazini, Chiara, 2024. "Energy poverty as capacity deprivation: A study of social housing using the partially ordered set," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    14. Stagnaro, Carlo & Amenta, Carlo & Di Croce, Giulia & Lavecchia, Luciano, 2017. "La liberalizzazione del mercato elettrico - Una proposta per superare la maggior tutela [The liberalization of Italy's retail electricity market: a policy proposal]," MPRA Paper 81768, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Awan, Ashar & Bilgili, Faik & Rahut, Dil Bahadur, 2022. "Energy poverty trends and determinants in Pakistan: Empirical evidence from eight waves of HIES 1998–2019," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    16. Kola-Bezka, Maria & Leki, Krzysztof, 2024. "Household energy behaviour in the times of crisis: Lessons for policy initiatives from peripheral, fossil-dependent regions of the European Union," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
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    18. Bardazzi, Rossella & Charlier, Dorothée & Legendre, Berangère & Pazienza, Maria Grazia, 2023. "Energy vulnerability in Mediterranean countries: A latent class analysis approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).

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