Issue Energy and transport poverty in the transition

Summary

The report finds that the energy transition can cause transport or energy poverty among households with low incomes and little room to cut their energy and fuel use. Such households may, for example, be unable to make their homes more sustainable, or depend on a fossil-fuel car without the money to buy an electric one. Households and businesses have become particularly unsure about payback periods for their investments because the net-metering scheme is being ended. Making homes more sustainable is progressing but still lags behind the targets. The report explains that price shocks from a crisis can prompt purchases of renewable equipment and temporarily lower energy use, but that implementing the transition is also hampered by labour shortages and conflicts over space.