Energy poverty is one of the greatest social challenges of the 21st century, and it is fundamentally reshaping the way modern European cities design their social policies. Every household’s ability to live in dignified conditions — with access to heating in winter, cooling in summer, and affordable energy costs — is becoming a key indicator of social cohesion and quality of life.
In the Municipality of Athens, at the initiative of Mayor Haris Doukas, we chose to address this new reality through a comprehensive strategy that links the energy transition with social policy. Because protecting the environment gains real value when it is accompanied by policies that improve citizens’ daily lives and support those most in need.
This vision led to the creation of the Athens Municipal Office for Combating Energy Poverty, a pioneering municipal structure that serves as a central point of information, assessment, and support for vulnerable households across Athens.
To date, more than 1,000 households have reached out to the Office, gaining access to a comprehensive range of benefits and services. Depending on the needs and circumstances of each household, support can include exemptions from municipal fees, access to the Energy Benefit Card with significant discounts on energy upgrade products and services, advisory support for reducing consumption, and participation in targeted initiatives to improve residential energy efficiency.
In addition, through European programs and partnerships with energy communities, the municipality offers free electricity to single-parent families living in energy poverty.
In the same spirit, the most recent initiative involves the free distribution of 100 high energy-efficiency air conditioning units to vulnerable households in Athens.
This intervention protects citizens against increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, while also reducing electricity consumption and contributing to improved living conditions.
Behind this initiative lies a reality that often goes unseen: many of our fellow citizens do not have an air conditioner at home, while others own old, energy-intensive units that they avoid using because they cannot afford to run them. During prolonged heatwaves, this is not merely a matter of comfort — it is a matter of health, safety, and dignified living.
Beyond financial and family criteria, special emphasis is placed on households where residents are over 75 years of age, children under 24 months old, or people with disabilities. These are social groups that are more exposed to the effects of extreme temperatures and require enhanced protection.
Applications are submitted exclusively online through the platform klimatistika.cityofathens.gr, until Sunday, July 19.
The decision by the Mayor of Athens to invest in a comprehensive policy addressing energy poverty reflects a broader understanding of the role of local government. Municipalities can design policies with real social impact, make effective use of European funding, and turn innovation into tangible results for citizens.
Develop Athens, the organization under which the Office for Combating Energy Poverty operates, serves this strategy by translating the tools at its disposal into concrete actions with a direct impact on citizens’ everyday lives. For a modern development company, the mission goes beyond implementing projects. It encompasses the design and implementation of public policies that strengthen social cohesion, improve quality of life, and create the conditions for sustainable, human-centered development.
The energy transition represents a major opportunity for the cities of tomorrow. Its success will be measured by the extent to which it reduces inequalities and ensures that every citizen can participate equally in its benefits. Athens’ experience demonstrates that cities can shape public policies with a measurable social footprint.
