Athens took center stage in the European dialogue on tackling energy poverty by hosting the annual Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) Conference on March 17–18. The event was held at the National Gallery, the Serafio complex of the City of Athens, and the Stratos Vassilikos Hotel. The two-day conference brought together representatives from European institutions, governments, local authorities, scientific and civil society organizations from across Europe, aiming to exchange knowledge and best practices to support energy-vulnerable households.
The Conference was organized by the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission, in collaboration with the City of Athens and the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub, with the support of EPAH’s Greek partner organization, INZEB.
As part of the Conference proceedings, the Energy Poverty Alleviation Office (EPAO) was presented. Operating under the umbrella of Develop Athens, it is considered one of the most comprehensive municipal initiatives in Europe for addressing energy poverty at a local level.
The Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, who welcomed participants to the city, stated: “Energy poverty is one of the greatest social challenges of our time. In Athens, we have chosen to address it through targeted policies and innovative tools, such as the Energy Poverty Alleviation Office. Hosting this important European conference in our city highlights the role of municipalities in promoting fair and sustainable solutions for the energy transition.”
The President of Develop Athens, Vangelis Marinakis, noted: “Hosting such an important European Conference in Athens is a recognition of the initiatives our city has developed to address energy poverty. The EPAO demonstrates that local government, through partnerships and expertise, can provide meaningful solutions to a complex social issue.”
The CEO of Develop Athens, Elissaios Sarmas, emphasized: “Our participation in this Conference was an important opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices with European cities and organizations. Through such initiatives, we aim to strengthen cooperation and policy development in order to support energy-vulnerable households even more effectively.”
The Conference program included thematic discussions, workshops, and interactive sessions for sharing experiences. During the two-day event, representatives of European organizations also carried out a visit to Serafio, where the Energy Poverty Alleviation Office is located.
In a special presentation, the management of Develop Athens, along with EPAO staff, highlighted the Office’s operational model and its innovative approach, which links energy advisory services with social support for citizens.
Additionally, a dedicated thematic session titled “From Theory to Action – Energy Poverty Alleviation Office, Municipality of Athens” presented the Office’s model as a municipal one-stop-shop service supporting energy-vulnerable households.
The work of the Energy Poverty Alleviation Office
The Energy Poverty Alleviation Office was established in May 2024 and aims to map energy-vulnerable households in the city, provide personalized energy advisory services, and promote interventions that improve the energy efficiency of homes.
At the same time, the Office contributes to facilitating exemptions from municipal lighting and sanitation fees for households classified as energy-vulnerable, following a decision by the municipal council initiated by Mayor Haris Doukas.
To date, 243 eligible households have received certification for exemption from municipal fees, out of 700 that have already been assessed.
In total, 934 households have registered with the Office, and 409 have received the Energy Benefit Card, which provides access to discounts on products and services that help improve the energy performance of their homes.