Energy Poverty: Risks and Vulnerability Using Latest Canadian Data

Energy poverty is commonly understood to describe the situation where a household is unable to access adequate energy to maintain wellbeing at home. Because it is largely experienced behind closed doors, the diversity of experiences with energy poverty may vary from households to household. This presentation uses latest custom data from Statistics Canada Census 2021 and evidence from research to construct archetypes or ‘user profiles’ of lived experiences with energy poverty. In doing so, we will explore how energy poverty amplifies existing vulnerabilities for Canadian households and make recommendations for targeted and decisive action to mitigate impacts for the most vulnerable households.