「能源貧困」困境：何種制度架構能實現能源公平？
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The ‘Energy Poverty’ Dilemma: What Structure Powers Equity?
In a world increasingly dependent on electricity, some regions are leading the charge toward renewable energy—but what exactly sets them apart? Which energy structures serve low-income communities, and how can the shift to clean power benefit everyday people rather than just corporations? These are some of the questions at the heart of the energy equity conversation—and California offers a compelling case study.
California’s Clean Energy Progress
California has set out a clear vision for its energy future, aiming for 100% of retail electricity sales to come from renewable and zero-carbon resources by 2045. This ambitious plan positions California as a leader in the clean energy transition; however, this push for clean energy is unfolding against a severe affordability crisis, where surging energy prices are an increasingly serious concern for residents.
California has the second-highest electricity usage rates in the United States, driven largely by the cost of wildfire mitigation. Between 2019 and 2024, ratepayers absorbed more than $27 billion in wildfire-related expenses. Utilities like Southern California Edison, PG&E, and San Diego Gas & Electric are passing these costs onto customers, with rates rising steeply—Southern California Edison alone has increased rates by 90% over the past decade. While some people wrongly blame the increasing popularity of rooftop solar for these steep costs, the main culprit is wildfire-related spending. Wildfire mitigation costs include expenses for tree trimming, vegetation management, underground power line construction, and contributions to the California Wildfire Fund. These management and preventative measures surge energy prices in California because these costs are typically passed on to ratepayers, driving up electricity bills.
Prioritizing the People – Programs Making A Difference
Ensuring a fair, clean energy transition means building programs that directly help those most burdened by energy costs. California has launched several such initiatives—many shaped not just by state agencies, but by local governments, public utility commissions, and regional nonprofits working together to design and deliver solutions.
One key initiative is the Energy Savings Assistance program, administered by Southern California Edison in partnership with state regulators and local outreach contractors. The Energy Savings Assistance program offers free energy-saving home upgrades and appliance replacements for income-qualified households, helping residents lower their energy bills without upfront costs.
To make clean energy more accessible, the state also supports no-cost solar installations through the Disadvantaged Communities Single-family Solar Homes program. Income-qualified homeowners in heavily polluted areas, identified by the state's CalEnviroScreen tool, can receive rooftop solar systems with upfront incentives that eliminate most costs. For renters or those unable to install rooftop systems, California offers the Green Tariff and Community Solar programs, which allow residents to subscribe to local solar projects and enjoy clean energy with a 20% discount on their electricity bills.
Structural Reforms
The UK’s Struggle with Energy Poverty
California’s clean energy journey reveals the difficult balance between daunting environmental goals and the urgent need for affordability and fairness. By combining targeted support programs with broader policy changes, the state is working toward a system that’s not only cleaner, but also more just and accessible for everyone.
While California is making major strides toward clean, accessible, and affordable energy for all, millions of households in England are still struggling to afford basic heating, electricity, and transportation. “Energy poverty” has become a serious issue in the UK, disproportionately affecting low-income and low-usage households. Why hasn’t England been able to improve its energy efficiency and better protect vulnerable communities?Imagine living in a home where you can’t afford to heat or being unable to travel to work or visit family because transportation costs are too high. This is the harsh reality for tens of millions of households across Europe, including many in the UK. Energy and transport poverty are driven by a mix of factors: low incomes combined with high energy prices, poorly insulated homes, personal circumstances like age or health issues, and major events like natural disasters or global conflicts. When people can’t afford these essentials, they often resort to desperate measures—rationing energy, skipping meals, and cutting back on other basic needs—leading to a sharp decline in quality of life. Eventhose not currently struggling report feeling vulnerable, worried they could fall into energy poverty in the future.
One major takeaway from recent studies is that poverty itself lies at the heart of the energy poverty crisis. One study explored what it would take to lift low-income UK households above the poverty line. It found that raising the top marginal tax rates—bringing them in line with rates already common in other European countries—could fund the necessary support. Interestingly, this approach would likely lead to a small net reduction in carbon emissions. In other words, policies that reduce poverty by boosting incomes might not only ease energy hardship but also help the environment.
Smart Meter Integration – Pros and Cons
At the same time, there’s been a major technological push across Europe with the rollout of smart electric meters. By the end of 2024, about 63% of electricity customers across the EU27+3 region (which includes the UK) had a smart meter installed.18 In total, more than 195 million smart electricity meters had been deployed by the end of 2024, and the numbers continue to grow.19 The UK has been particularly active, pushing for the installation of second-generation smart electric meters. Although the UK led Europe in shipments of new smart meters in 2023, the pace of installations was slower than in previous years.
Still, it's important to keep perspective. Despite the massive investment in smart electric metering, neither experts nor the public see this technology as the best way to tackle energy poverty. Installing a smart meter is like putting a speedometer on a bicycle with broken wheels. It tells you how fast you’re going — but it doesn't fix the underlying problems that make the ride difficult. Surveys show strong support for more direct, practical measures like requiring landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of rental homes and expanding financial assistance for low-income 20 While smart electric meters can help customers monitor their usage, they don’t solve the deeper problem of energy being simply unaffordable for many families.
Real Systemic Change or Patchwork Policies?
Local governments in Europe have attempted to implement policies to aid this situation, most of which have focused on optimizing energy efficiency rather than attacking the root of energy poverty. For example, in France, subsidies are provided for home insulation and heating upgrades to combat the older, energy-inefficient buildings often located in low-income neighborhoods. But repairing infrastructure only patches the greater wound of the energy poverty dilemma — making life more tolerable in the short term, while overlooking the need for deeper, systemic change.
Looking across the available commentary, it’s clear that energy and transport poverty remain urgent challenges in the UK – both experts and the public tend to favor common-sense measures such as upgrading homes, expanding financial aid, and making public transportation cheaper—or even free. Experts also stress that deeper, systemic changes are needed: redesigning business models, ensuring new technologies are accessible to all, and putting vulnerable households at the center of energy policy.
Paving the Path for Equitable Energy for All
The world is clearly at different stages when it comes to integrating renewable energy and supporting low-income families facing staggering electricity bills. Millions are suffering from energy poverty, and in order to bring tangible change, fighting poverty directly is essential. Technological upgrades like smart electric meters are important, but are not sufficient. And while new ideas—like income-based energy pricing—are being floated, they currently face a rocky road in public opinion. For now, the most supported solutions remain focused on making homes more energy-efficient, improving financial support, and ensuring affordable transport options for those who need them most.
By adopting a blend of California’s targeted subsidy programs and the UK’s policy critiques, countries striving for more equitable energy distribution—like Taiwan—can chart more effective paths toward energy justice.
Similarly to cases previously mentioned, Taiwan faces mounting pressure as rising electricity costs disproportionately impact low-income households. A recent study by National Taiwan University’s Risk Society and Policy Research Center reveals that many low-income households in Taiwan spend over 10%—and sometimes over 20%—of their income on energy, placing them at high risk of energy poverty. To address this, researchers propose the creation of a climate social impact fund, potentially supported by surplus tax revenue, to create a buffer for vulnerable families from the rising cost of electricity, particularly during the hot summer months when air conditioning becomes essential. By investing in both immediate financial relief and long-term structural changes—like improving home energy efficiency and designing income-based energy support—Taiwan can work toward a cleaner energy future that is socially just and economically sustainable.
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Works Cited:
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Photo credit links (in order of appearance):
https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/clean-energy-serving-california
https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/02/09/uk-energy-price-hike-threatens-worsen-poverty-crisis
