Assessing energy poverty and vulnerability in Colombia: a multidimensional analysis (2010–2022)

Abstract

In this paper, we examined the incidence of energy poverty and energy vulnerability using the Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI) for Colombia (2010–2022). The MEPI measures the incidence and intensity of energy poverty, based on six indicators of energy deprivation at the household level. Although the secular trend of the MEPI reveals that the proportion of energy-poor households has improved, a significant gap in poverty incidence remains between urban and rural regions: 26% of rural households were still energy-poor by 2022, while in urban areas, the corresponding number was less than 2%. Households experiencing energy poverty exhibit lower incomes, greater household numbers, and a reduced likelihood of having children. The heads of these households are more likely to be male, tend to fall into younger or older age brackets, possess lower educational attainment, and are more likely to self-identify as indigenous or black. In terms of energy vulnerability, the most conservative estimates show that vulnerability is more widespread than energy poverty, with 38% of rural households being vulnerable to energy poverty.