Energy vulnerable individuals on solutions to energy poverty

The current energy crisis has not only increased the vulnerability of those who are already vulnerable but pushed a new wave of individuals below the poverty line. Many more citizens are struggling to keep their homes warm and pay their energy bills. In addition, they are also finding it difficult to maintain access to other basic services, such as transport and digital resources. North Macedonia even before the energy crisis had a high share of energy poverty driven by a lack of proper infrastructure and built environment, a monopolistic energy system, and an already high share of material deprivation. The current solution to addressing energy poverty in the country is not ambitious as it offers limited relief (income support). On the other hand, measures aimed at increasing energy efficiency and renewable use rarely target energy-vulnerable individuals. In the context of the socially just transition, citizens are to be empowered to take an active part in the energy transition. Although energy-vulnerable individuals are often studied to understand their lived experiences, there is a lack of research to explore their demands to alleviate energy poverty. This paper aimed to explore solutions to energy poverty proposed by energy-vulnerable individuals in North Macedonia to complement the policy agenda with the lived experience and citizen knowledge of the energy vulnerable. While electricity disconnection is allowed after one unpaid bill, the existing measures aimed at improving energy efficiency or increasing the share of renewables are unreachable for the energy vulnerable. The experience of the energy vulnerable will facilitate the understanding of their navigation through the energy crisis and what socially just policies are there to improve their access to basic energy services as well as promote energy citizenship.