Fuel poverty map of Valencia (Spain): Results of a direct survey to citizens and recommendations for policy making

Highlights: • Fuel poverty data is measured in Valencia city based on primary data. • Fuel poverty results of five indicators show different attributes of the problem. • 23.1% of households are fuel poor as per the minimum income standard (MIS) and 15.1% more are vulnerable in Valencia. • A combination of policy measures is proposed to avoid and alleviate fuel poverty. Measuring Fuel Poverty is a requirement for the correct sizing and the better understanding of the problem. Valencia's city council (Spain) commissioned a study based on primary data, i.e. direct interviews to the inhabitants. The survey reached 595 valid answers and gave an accurate quantification of fuel poverty in the city. For a more complete approach, and to be able to benchmark the results, five fuel poverty indicators were measured, next the minimum income standard was chosen for a deeper analysis. This indicator presented a 23.1% of households in fuel poverty, clearly above the average value for the country. Based on the survey results, the effect of different relevant factors are discussed, like energy prices, energy quality of the dwellings, tenure status or energy illiteracy. Then, conclusions and specific policy implications are put forward classified into four categories: economic support, housing retrofitting, training in energy, and deployment of new energy actors and markets.