Medición de pobreza y vulnerabilidad energética de los hogares.

Abstract

Access to energy allows satisfying different basic needs such as cooking, water heating, heating, etc. However, the lack of connection to distribution networks or a high cost in relation to family income make it impossible to satisfy them. The concepts of poverty and energy vulnerability reflect these energy deprivations in different dimensions of analysis. This article makes a diagnosis in the province of Río Negro, Argentina, using information from the National Survey of Household Expenditures. The results indicate that, on average, 11.3% of households are poor in the energy dimension and that the percentage is higher for those who do not have access to natural gas networks and for house-holds with lower income. Furthermore, the state subsidy for residential gas consumption alleviates energy poverty, even though the measurement probably underestimates the impact for provin-cial areas with colder and longer winters. With these results, we provide information to policy makers to design or improve instruments with an appropriate targeting of the affected popu-lation. The need to deepen the analysis of non-monetary dimensions of energy vulnerabi-lity and carry out territorially differentiated studies, is highlighted.