Exploring energy poverty governance: Perspectives from energy vulnerable cities in the Czech Republic

The increasing energy prices and supply insecurity have made the EU member states and their populations vulnerable to energy poverty. The issue of energy poverty has become a pressing concern in the Czech Republic, especially after recent price hikes and energy supplier bankruptcies. However, addressing this issue is not just about finding appropriate policies to address and prevent energy poverty within national contexts but also about how these measures will be implemented. Previous research on energy poverty narratives in the Czech Republic has revealed two competing models - one arguing for a strong role of the state in decision-making and nation-wide alleviation programs´ implementation, and the other advocating for the involvement of larger regional units and municipalities, who are considered to be closer to those in need. Given the expected growing role of municipalities in our energy futures, this contribution delves deeper into the question of energy poverty's governance. Based on the analysis of 18 semi-structured interviews with representatives from the most energy vulnerable cities in the Czech Republic, we aim to shed more light on the prevailing discourse at the local level. We seek to explore how local actors perceive the causes and solutions of energy poverty, as well as their role in addressing the issue in a country with legacies of both communist regime and rapid liberalization efforts. Our analysis also aims to reveal any institutional and normative barriers to effectively solving the problem. To summarize, this contribution opens up the question of energy poverty governance, and how the perspectives of local actors can inform the development of effective policies and solutions to address this pressing issue.