engleski

Policy measures for reducing energy poverty in Croatia

The analysis confirms that energy poverty has become a rising issue in Croatia. Considering theoretical energy poverty line of 10%, the average households from first six deciles are struggling with the problem of energy poverty. The problem is additionally emphasized by the low energy efficiency in residential building and family houses stock. According to EU-SILC, the share of population that cannot keep its home adequately warm amounts almost 10%. These results show the inconsistency of the policy for addressing the energy poverty problem, since the share of population covered by legally defined measure is not equal to the share of potential energy poor population. Croatia defined the concept and status of vulnerable customer in 2012 in the Energy Act and in 2015 implemented first measures in a form of vulnerable customer subsidy. Until the adoption of the Directives of the Third Energy Package, Croatia was trying to alleviate the problem of energy poverty by energy tariffs lower than the market value and by the social allowance within the social policy system. Except the customers who were entitled to social allowance, there were no clear criteria for any kind of allowance for the energy consumption. Since the Third Energy Package does not allow energy prices below market value because it impedes the proper functioning of the energy market, Croatia has started to implement new measures in the field of social and energy policy. In the field of social policy, energy vulnerable customers that are beneficiaries of guaranteed minimum allowance are entitled to the subsidy - monthly voucher dedicated for electricity costs, which amounts 26 EUR. In the field of energy policy, there are several measures that can be divided into two categories: energy efficiency measures and regulatory measures. The most important group of measures to address the energy poverty issue is related to energy efficiency improvements in family houses and residential buildings because they lead to significant energy savings. Even though energy efficiency measures should be implemented as a priority in poor households by Law on energy efficiency, Croatia has not yet started taking into account social criteria. Within the regulatory measures to address the energy poverty issue, Croatian legislation prescribes the possibility of supplier switch.

energy poverty, Croatia, policy measures

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