On Sunday, December 28, the Energy Poverty Alleviation Office (EPAO) of the City of Athens hosted a special solidarity event as part of the EU-funded project Gender4power, with the participation of beneficiary families.
Following a draw, a single-parent family supported by EPAO, was awarded free electricity for 22 years. This initiative was made possible through the collaboration of Develop Athens, Electra Energy, and the “HYPERION” energy community.
The Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, attended the event and stated:
“Energy poverty is a reality for thousands of our fellow citizens. Through the City of Athens Energy Poverty Alleviation Office, we demonstrate in practice, what energy democracy means. Having already waived municipal fees for 200 energy-vulnerable households and issued the Energy Benefit Card to more than 350, we are now offering free electricity for 22 years to a single-parent family. It is a political responsibility to ensure that no household is left in the dark. We prove that the City of Athens can and must intervene dynamically with long-term solutions that have real social and environmental impact.”
Actions against energy poverty
The Gender4power project is funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme and aims to improve the living conditions of households affected by energy poverty. Through its pilot implementation in Athens, actions include energy upgrades, provision of energy-saving equipment, educational and awareness-raising activities for energy-vulnerable households.
During the event, gifts were raffled for large families (with three or more children). At the same time, the Mayor of Athens and EPAO staff distributed energy-saving light bulbs as part of awareness-raising efforts promoting energy conservation.
EPAO at the OECD in Paris
The City of Athens’ Energy Poverty Alleviation Office serves as a model institution for a fair and sustainable transition at local and European level.
Last October, EPAO represented Greece at the “Workshop on Inclusive Growth Focusing on People at Risk of Poverty or Social Exclusion in Cities,” organized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. It presented its work and actions in the “Fair Climate Action” session, actively contributing to the development of strategic policy recommendations to tackle poverty and social exclusion in cities.