The right to energy

The State of Serbia recognizes energy poverty and defines it as "a state in which the household does not have at its disposal sufficient opportunities to provide the necessary amount of energy that is necessary for a healthy and dignified life in a way that does not endanger other basic life needs of the household or the wider community".

Although there are no precise statistics in Serbia on the population in a situation of energy poverty, conservative estimates are that there are over 200.000 households. These households usually face multiple problems, such as inadequate housing, insufficient income to meet basic life needs, and difficult access to health care. All this puts them in a spiral of even more intensive deterioration of living conditions and further social exclusion. Due to a lack of money, energy-poor households do not have adequately heated apartments, nor can they invest in greater energy efficiency of their homes and devices, and at the same time, they spend more energy and money precisely because of this inefficiency.

Energy poverty has significant consequences for health, first of all directly for those who heat with solid fuels in their homes, but also for the entire community and the environment. Health consequences range from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases that can lead to death to mental health problems such as anxiety or depression.

Institutional support mechanisms for the poorest are inadequate and insensitive to the structural challenges that these residents face, and the existing measures to improve energy efficiency are formulated in such a way that they bypass energy-poor households.

This situation requires a fundamental change. The state must guarantee energy for all citizens!

Energy must be available to everyone!

Everyone should have physical access to energy sources, regardless of their geographic location. This means that it is necessary to ensure that energy infrastructure reaches all areas, including remote and underdeveloped regions.

Energy must be affordable for everyone!

Everyone should have access to energy at a price that allows even the lowest income households to afford it without sacrificing other basic needs. This includes support mechanisms for vulnerable populations, such as subsidies, social tariffs or financial assistance programs. This also includes programs to increase energy efficiency. Renovation of the thermal envelope of a multi-apartment building must not result in the eviction of those who cannot participate in the cost.

Energy must be affordable for everyone!

Given that energy poverty is a structural problem, not an individual one, there is a collective responsibility of the entire society to eliminate it. Therefore, the funds needed to ensure energy security for all should first of all come from the profits of companies that profit from fossil fuels and pollute the environment, as well as from fees for excessive and wasteful energy consumption, and then from the public budget, which all citizens contribute to taxes.

Energy must be sustainable!

Access to energy must not endanger the environment. The right to energy includes the promotion of clean and renewable energy sources in order to reduce the negative impact on the environment and reduce the effects of climate change and stop their further intensification. However, even when choosing sustainable energy sources, care must be taken to preserve biodiversity and local life.

The energy must be clear!

Access to information on energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and sustainable practices should be available and adapted to everyone. This includes organizing programs and campaigns that will share information with citizens on how they can reduce energy consumption, improve the energy performance of their households and switch to more sustainable and healthy ways of using energy.

Energy must be participatory!

Individuals, individuals and entire communities must have a say in making decisions about energy policies and practices that affect them. This implies the participation of all interested parties in planning and decision-making related to energy infrastructure and services.

Energy must not discriminate!

The right to energy must be guaranteed to all individuals without discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, economic, social or any other status. Special attention should be given to marginalized and vulnerable groups to ensure that they are not neglected.

Energy must be guaranteed to everyone both on paper and in practice!

The government of RS must supplement the legal framework so that it recognizes and protects the right to energy. This includes creating regulatory frameworks that promote fair prices, protect consumers and support the transition to sustainable energy systems. Such a regulatory framework must be based on thorough and continuous data collection. Finally, the state must also improve the practice of implementing such laws and provide adequate institutional infrastructure for their application.