Tackling energy vulnerability among women

Available data (while sparse) suggest that, across the EU, households in which women alone manage resources – including energy – the risk of being in energy poverty is 3 to 4 times higher than among the general population. Often, this reflects how current economic and social systems fail to acknowledge or take account of their unique needs.

Women in Solidarity for Energy (WISE) aims to launch an EU-wide movement to better understand and meet the energy needs of the most vulnerable citizens.

Targeting extreme rates of energy vulnerability

Against an EU average of 8-10% of households being in situations of energy vulnerability, among single women, the rates skyrocket. Estimates suggest that 31% of all single women cannot afford to keep their homes adequately comfortable or fall behind on paying energy bills. Narrow the focus to single mothers and the share jumps to 44%.

When using the term ‘single women’, WISE recognises that it is less than ideal to capture ‘who’ these women are. They might be one of the following.

University students or young workers

living away from home for the first time, and just learning about energy bills, renter’s rights and absentee landlords.

Single mothers

who need to juggle the intense pressures of earning a living with caring for young children.

Elderly women

who may still be living in a family home that far exceeds their current needs, with little knowledge of how to manage or maintain its energy systems.

Marginalised women

in communities that have long been denied access to a wide range of basic services that underpin health and well-being.

Migrant women

who are just discovering the reality of living in a cold climate and learning how to operate unfamiliar appliances and equipment.

WISE welcomes input as to other sub-groups that should be included in the preceding list and in its upcoming actions.

Taking action to empower single women

Multiple factors, as explored in Learn More contribute to the systemic injustices that undermine the health and well-being of single women and of their dependents. Most are complex and addressing them will require strategic and holistic action over the long term.

Across 10 strategically planned events, WISE Partners aim to engage an ever-growing network of actors in the achievement of four overarching goals:

Raise awareness of the situation of single women

among the general public and decision-makers.

Educate single women

about energy in general and, more specifically, their energy rights.

Co-develop solutions

by engaging affected women and a wider range of relevant actors.

Enable other groups

to join the movement by making resources available in multiple languages.

In its first four months, WISE drew more than 250 people from ~20 EU countries to its first two activities: a) creating WISE National Collectives to lead local action; and b) organising a Pan-European Conference.

WISE anticipates a rapid multiplier effect as it advances collective action to make more resources available in diverse languages and then to raise awareness and deliver services to target women.

‘Solidarity’ as a central theme

In line with definitions proposed by the Community Energy for Energy Solidarity project and others, WISE considers energy solidarity to encompass:

Collective action by diverse individuals and/or entities to overcome energy-related adversity as experienced by one or more parties.

Such actions should seek to enhance social justice while also building empathy for those whose lives are already constrained by systemic injustices. It implies a sustained commitment that may involve equitably distributing costs incurred in the pursuit of a shared goal.

The Project adopts energy solidarity as a core principle based on the value it can bring across three areas:

Creating Community

Many single women in energy vulnerability are also negatively affected by social isolation. Engaging local actors and citizens in tackling energy poverty can boost their psychological well-being and reduce the burden of needing to be completely self-sufficient.

Delivering 'quick wins'

Tackling energy poverty is a complex and resource-intensive process that takes time. Small actions in the near term can reduce some of the impacts of energy poverty while also building trust between those affected and the actors who hold responsibility for eliminating social injustices.

Fostering co-creation of relevant solutions

Too often, policy makers and other actors implement actions that do not reflect what women most need. Solidarity aims to empower women in decision-making processes.

To find out how to join the WISE movement – as an individual, an organisation or a funder or in-kind contributor – explore the options under Ways to Engage.