Fostering a democratic and socially just energy transition: How do Ombudspersons in Europe frame energy poverty?

This exploratory research examines how 20 Ombudspersons in Europe frame their understanding of energy poverty and energy justice, and explores the potential link between their framing and the prevalence of energy poverty in their respective countries. The countries exhibit varying levels of energy poverty and energy injustices influenced by factors such as income poverty, housing deprivation, electricity monopoly, social protection strength, and government effectiveness. The framing of energy poverty by Ombudspersons in Europe has a grading character. Apart from Ombudspersons that do not mention any energy injustice, the least ambitious framing category is 'consumer right', followed by the more ambitious category of 'social vulnerability', while the highest level of ambition is reached when Ombudspersons explicitly mention 'right to energy' or energy poverty. Ombudspersons framing energy poverty as a consumer right discuss policy cohesion and institutional lock-ins that impact energy poverty. Those who view energy poverty as a question of social vulnerability consider the vulnerable groups' needs. Ombudspersons who explicitly mention energy poverty or the 'right to energy' perceive access to basic services as a right, where violations of rights impact dignity. There is a partial correlation between how Ombudspersons frame energy poverty and the prevalence of energy poverty and energy injustices in their respective countries. In cases where energy poverty is a significant issue, the Ombudspersons usually analyze it, but it is absent from their work in countries where energy poverty is a minor issue. The Ombudsperson is an emerging actor to foster a democratic and socially just energy transition.