The scale of energy poverty and its consequences in a large urban centre – the example of the city of Krakow

Purpose: The article aims to draw attention to energy poverty in Krakow and analyze its consequences. Design/methodology/approach: The article is based on a questionnaire survey conducted in 411 households in Krakow. Findings: 13% of households in Krakow experience energy poverty measured subjectively, based on declarations regarding the ability to heat their homes according to their needs, with 2% indicating that they can never afford to heat their homes to their preferred level. Most (almost 80% of households) of such households drastically reduce energy consumption at home, or (20% of households) leave the apartment for most of the day. As a result, these households report frequent colds and a lack of stability and security. Research limitations/implications: The study was conducted in November 2022. Therefore, its results may reflect a particular issue that existed during a period after the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine, amid the energy crisis. It should be noted that the changing macroeconomic and political situation in the country can heavily impact the material situation of households and, as a result, energy poverty. Additionally, the study focused on specific aspects of poverty without considering all its dimensions, and it was conducted based on subjective questionnaire responses without incorporating objective measures or direct measurements. Therefore, the article merely provides a glimpse into existing problems highlighted by the residents of Krakow rather than a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon. Originality/value: So far, no other studies have focused solely on the issue of energy poverty in Krakow. Such studies are rarely conducted in cities because this problem is often associated with rural areas. From the perspective of the authors of this work, this viewpoint is flawed because households living in apartment buildings also face difficulties in paying bills and thermal problems daily. Therefore, this study serves as a starting point for measuring the phenomenon's scale in cities and filling a gap in the extensive literature on energy poverty. Funding: The publication was financed from the subsidy granted to the Krakow University of Economic – Project no 047/GAG/2022/POT.