Extending understanding of energy poverty in Canada

Runa Das and Mylene Riva received funding through a SSHRC grant to examine energy poverty, and to define, measure, and address energy poverty in the Canadian context.

Beginning in the 1980s, concerns over the "under-consumption" of energy started receiving attention from researchers, policymakers, and the general public, particularly in the United Kingdom (UK). While a worldwide research agenda on energy poverty is proliferating, Canada's contribution to the scientific study of energy poverty is lacking. Indeed, interest in energy poverty has only recently increased in Canada. Recent estimates show that, depending on the indicator used, between 8 to 19% of Canadian households are energy poor. The proportion is even higher at 30% in rural areas and in Atlantic Canada. What is lacking now, though, is an understanding of these households and what makes them vulnerable to energy poverty, as well as their experiences of it. As well, a more sophisticated manner of understanding energy poverty, than an expenditures-based method, is warranted. Indeed this is the majority call from the international community of energy poverty scholars.

This four-year research projects proposes to develop a multi-dimensional conceptual framework for the contextual study and mitigation of energy poverty in Canada. We ask: How can energy poverty be defined, measured, and addressed in the Canadian context? This project aims to: 1) Identify drivers and exacerbators of energy poverty; 2) Identify who is energy vulnerable and get a deeper understanding of the impacts of energy poverty on well-being and everyday life; 3) Assess the extent to which energy poverty interventions and policies are equitable and just, and learn of the stakeholders involved with energy poverty interventions; and 4) Propose new ways to measure energy poverty in Canada. To address these objectives, the project employs a range of methods, such as: quantitative analysis of linked population survey data; in-depth interviews with vulnerable population groups in urban and rural settings to understand the lived experience of energy poverty; interviews with stakeholders (utilities and non-profit organizations) to understand their conceptions of energy poverty; and assessing existing energy poverty interventions on the basis of equity and energy justice. Findings will be integrated to develop measures of energy poverty that are relevant to the Canadian context. This program of research will offer three students significant, extensive, and rigorous social science graduate research training at the doctoral and master's levels.

We approach the study of energy poverty with the understanding that consuming energy is necessary and that under-consumption of energy can compromise well-being and everyday life. We also theorize energy poverty to be a significant challenge due to vulnerabilities that are dynamic. We also theorize energy poverty to be spatially influenced, and that the right to energy can be thought of as a normative concept.

Interest in energy poverty in Canada is increasing. Growing media coverage and advocacy efforts to reduce energy poverty are also increasing. Yet, both are occurring in the context of scant Canadian energy poverty research, setting up the potential for inappropriate responses. This project will address significant knowledge and policy gaps by re-contextualizing energy poverty concepts and measures to fit a Canadian context. This is critical for providing a foundation from which to base relevant, effective, and equitable policy responses. We aim to grapple with the complexity of energy poverty and develop evidence-based policy recommendations for all stakeholders. This is especially relevant as Canada works towards a clean, low-carbon energy transition to address global climate change.