Energy Poverty Advisory Hub EPAH National Event

On 28^th November a half day event on energy poverty was held as a session in the framework of the XVI National Conference of ABEA , Sofia, 27-29 November 2023. The event was part of EU Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) Initiative. It was attended by representatives of local and regional authorities, governmental institutions (Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, Ministry of Environment and Waters, Agency for Sustainable Energy Development), energy utilities, energy agencies and consultancy centres, NGOs and others. The main issues discussed were the EPAH initiative latest developments, the results of EPAH Annual Conference 2023 in Warsaw, the Bulgarian policies to combat energy poverty incl. proposals for definition of energy poverty and formula to calculate, various ways to combat energy poverty on local level (energy communities, energy refurbishment of dwellings of energy poor, one-stop-shops, and others. The discussion focused on the need of coordinated governmental policy on energy poverty, adoption of a common definition and a formula to calculate energy poor households, and need for support measures directed towards energy efficiency and sustainability rather than direct funding of energy expenses.