ABSTRACT

This paper aims to explore the role of institutions, and specifically of the Ombudsman, in creating and practicing policies with relevance to energy poverty as a case of procedural energy (in)justice in a European context, while refining procedural energy justice. It is empirically informed by studies about the Austrian energy utility-based Ombudsman and the independent Ombudsman in North Macedonia, countries with a low and high level of energy poverty, respectively. I highlight the unexplored institutional capacity of the independent Ombudsman to discover hidden institutional energy poverty drivers, and the utility-based Ombudsman to alleviate energy poverty, and contribute to a socially just energy transition. The energy market and social welfare system are important institutions co-shaping energy poverty, and the energy utility plays an especially relevant role in creating or preventing energy injustices. Procedural energy justice applied to energy poverty is about how institutions treat citizens over access to affordable energy, and how citizens are (dis)empowered by that relationship.

摘要

本文旨在探讨机构，特别是监察员在制定和实施与能源贫困相关的政策方面的作用，作为欧洲背景下的程序性能源（不）正义案例，同时完善程序性能源正义。它的经验来自对奥地利能源公用事业监察员和北马其顿独立监察员的研究，这两个国家的能源贫困程度分别为低和高。我强调了独立监察员在发现隐藏的制度性能源贫困驱动因素方面尚未开发的机构能力，以及基于公用事业的监察员在减轻能源贫困和促进社会公正的能源转型方面的能力。能源市场和社会福利体系是共同塑造能源贫困的重要制度，能源公用事业在造成或防止能源不公正方面发挥着特别重要的作用。适用于能源贫困的程序性能源正义是关于机构如何对待公民而不是获得负担得起的能源，以及公民如何因这种关系而被（剥夺）权力。