The indicator commonly used to estimate the energy poverty of households in Italy does not allow for analysis beyond regional disaggregation. This paper presents an index of the risk of energy poverty at the municipal level, which addresses the increased need for a more detailed understanding of the phenomenon at a local level. The new indicator is based on the degree of energy efficiency of properties, as determined by Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).
Using the indicator with data from Lombardy, we find a greater risk of energy poverty for households residing in the municipalities of mountain areas in the north and south-west, and in some areas of the Po Valley, compared with a lower risk for the metropolitan areas of Milan and Brescia. The results are robust to variations in the assumptions used to construct the indicator. A more widespread availability of data would allow the analysis to be extended to other areas of the country.
