Energy Poverty in Portugal
Energy poverty is capable of guaranteeing the minimum conditions of comfort, namely thermal. In other words, correspond to people who experience extreme cold or heat in their homes.
This situation is particularly serious in Portugal. It is the 4th European with the highest poverty rate and was only the 19th in the country where the problem increased.
Close to three million Portuguese live in energy poverty and die every year from suffering from excessive cold or heat.
Portugal has a high percentage of elderly population – more sensitive to these conditions. On the other hand, we have the highest electricity costs in Europe and the highest energy loads – which exacerbates the problem. In addition, the price of electricity is already increasing.
Given this scenario, the Government’s response is clearly insufficient, in terms of time and manner.
In relation to the rise in the price of electricity, it announces measures that, contrary to what it would like to believe, will not reduce its cost, but only mitigate its rise. Or rise, the price of the income of poverty is, aggravating the energy problem.
The Government also beckons with the More Sustainable Buildings Program – which is positive – and even with a ‘rain’ of millions from the PRR. But this problem is not immediate and does not have the initiative to solve the needs.
In the Government Programme, the energy poverty strategy is referred to the Long-Term Question for Combating Energy Poverty 2021-2050, which was under public consultation until May last year and then in the drawer. This Strategy is long term. With this mechanism, the Government plans to delay solving energy poverty in 30 years – thirty!
Will it be energetic if the Government is satisfied proposing to solve the possible poverty in such a long term, 30 years?
As the needs of 3 million Portuguese deserve more commitment. No one can have a clear conscience when Portuguese people die every year from causes related to excessive cold or heat.
The drama of energy poverty, which affects almost an inequality of the Portuguese population, represents a more glaring social inequalities and presents more competition, another priority and immediate measures that are not that, which the problem is attributed to it.
The Government’s Program on energy poverty is a French poverty.