FPRN bulletin – 18th December 2025

The paper employs a Participatory Systems Mapping approach to develop a Causal Loop Diagram depicting the Portuguese energy poverty system and shows how it is closely linked to rising energy prices, inefficient buildings, and climate policies aimed at cutting emissions. The researchers find that community-led energy projects and home renovations could reduce energy hardship, but stresses the need for more inclusive public participation and clearer agreement on future energy needs.

This article examines debates around banning electricity disconnections for unpaid bills, highlighting the tension between protecting household wellbeing and keeping electricity markets financially sustainable. By comparing policies in France, Spain, Ireland and Australia, the paper shows that better-balanced rules and support systems can help ensure people have reliable access to electricity while still recognising economic realities.

This paper looks at energy poverty in an Indigenous community in Yucatán, Mexico, where frequent power outages and limited access to clean water make daily life more difficult. By using measures that reflect local realities and community input, the research shows that energy hardship is widespread but could be greatly reduced through community-led and locally tailored solutions.

This research proposed an adjusted metric to calculate energy burden which includes a households net income (gross income minus housing costs). Applying this to households in the US finds that there may be an additional 11% of households (or 4.7 million households) who are burdened which has implications for policy and support.

This study uses longitudinal Australian household data (HILDA) and advanced computer models to identify which people are most at risk of falling into energy poverty and why. The findings show that stable incomes and early support can help prevent energy hardship, encouraging policymakers to act before households reach crisis point rather than only responding after problems arise.

This research explores the links between energy justice, sustainable development, and energy transition within the legal framework of electricity market structures and regulations at the regional levels in Europe and the Global South (Sub-Saharan Africa). Using comparative and doctrinal analysis, it highlights disparities and policy solutions, showing how European market reforms and initiatives such as emissions trading can inform equitable, secure, and renewable energy transitions in Sub-Saharan Africa despite persistent infrastructure, financing, and governance challenges.