The City of Athens, through the Energy Poverty Alleviation Office (EPAO) and the GENDER4POWER EU project, is providing free electricity for 22 years to three single-parent families headed by women.
The announcement followed a draw held on Holy Tuesday, April 7, at the EPAO facilities in Serafio, with the participation of 19 beneficiaries, in the presence of the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas. A total of 19 female beneficiaries of the GENDER4POWER programme took part in the draw. This initiative builds on a similar action carried out in December, during which another EPAO beneficiary received the same support.
In his statement, the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, noted: “Addressing energy poverty is a key priority for the City of Athens and a critical area of social policy. Through EPAO, we draw on European tools and develop targeted partnerships to support households most in need. Today’s initiative is another example of how policies can translate into tangible results for the most vulnerable citizens.”
The President of Develop Athens S.A., Vangelis Marinakis, stated: “The use of energy communities to support vulnerable households is a strategic choice with strong social and environmental impact. We continue to develop partnerships that create real value for the city.”
The CEO of Develop Athens S.A., Elissaios Sarmas, added: “Through GENDER4POWER and EPAO’s actions, we demonstrate that European programmes can be translated into tangible interventions with immediate benefits for citizens. This initiative is a characteristic example of this approach.”
The GENDER4POWER Programme
The initiative is part of the European GENDER4POWER project, funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme, which aims to support vulnerable households affected by energy poverty, with a particular focus on women.
This intervention leverages the energy community model, enabling women-led households to access clean, affordable energy while delivering long-term social impact.
The City of Athens’ Energy Poverty Alleviation Office, which will mark two years of operation in May, is an innovative support mechanism offering personalised advisory services, connections to support schemes, and targeted interventions to reduce energy costs.
Athens’ experience has also gained recognition at the European level. During a recent Eurocities discussion on tackling poverty, EPAO was highlighted as an example of a comprehensive local policy. To date, more than 250 highly vulnerable households have been exempted from municipal fees, while hundreds of families have received support through targeted interventions.