Summary:
The year 2020 will always be remembered in the world as the year of the COVID lockdown. In Spain, as in many other countries around the world, population confinement measures were implemented. This fact, together with other socio-economic consequences of the pandemic, were reflected in the reality of energy poverty in the country. This study presents an analysis of this phenomenon in the light of the available data, i.e. using the 2020 Spanish HBS and SILC. This assessment is carried out by applying different metrics, namely the four main indicators proposed by the EU Energy Poverty Observatory (EPOV), and two additional metrics of disproportionate expenditure and underspending, respectively. The results show that while the disproportionate and underspending indicators, in general, did not change significantly as a result of the policies prohibiting supply cut-offs, the subjective indicators, i.e., arrears in utility bills and inadequate temperature, worsened significantly. On the other hand, the additional metric of under-spending reveals a very relevant incidence (21%) of hidden energy poverty in the country. The study also highlights an uneven geographical distribution of energy poverty.
Spanish layman's summary:
Este estudio presenta un análisis del impacto de COVID-19 en la pobreza energética en España. Para ello se han calculado los cuatro indicadores principales propuestos por el Observatorio Europeo de Pobreza Energética, y dos métricas adicionales de gasto desproporcionado y gasto insuficiente.
English layman's summary:
This study presents an analysis of the impact of COVID-19 in energy poverty in Spain. This assessment is carried out by calculating the four main indicators proposed by the EU Energy Poverty Observatory, and two additional metrics of disproportionate expenditure and underspending, respectively.
Keywords: Energy poverty; Affordability; COVID-19; Hidden Energy Poverty; Underspending; Overspending
JCR Impact Factor and WoS quartile: 3,100 - Q3 (2022)
DOI reference:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-023-10141-5
Published on paper: August 2023.
Published on-line: June 2023.
Citation:
J.C. Romero, R. Barrella, E. Centeno, Understanding the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on energy poverty in Spain. Energy Efficiency. Vol. 16, nº. 6, pp. 56-1 - 56-11, August 2023. [Online: June 2023]
