Households in energy poverty

Households in energy poverty have a low income combined with high energy costs and/or a home with low energy efficiency. Low energy efficiency means that a home is difficult to heat (e.g. due to poor insulation) and/or there are no possibilities to generate energy (e.g. with solar panels). Energy costs include energy bills minus any financial support from the government. A low household income is limited to a maximum of 30 percent above the low-income threshold, <note> or a disposable income of up to 20,875 euros in 2024, standardised to a single-person household.

This year, in addition to the group of households in energy poverty – and therefore on low incomes – households on lower to medium incomes were also taken into account. In other words, households with an income level of just above the income threshold, with a maximum of 30 to 100 percent of the low-income threshold (a standardised disposable income between 20,875 and 32,116 euros). When energy prices are high, these households run the risk that their energy costs will become unaffordable for them.