Energy poverty and administrative barriers affect Kosovo households

A report by the Atlas Institute and the Heinrich Böll Foundation reveals that 21.6% of households in Kosovo were unable to afford adequate heating in 2024. Approximately 79,000 households face energy poverty, with significant gender disparities noted; women-led households are less represented in subsidized electricity contracts.

Heating challenges are compounded by housing conditions, as 24.5% of households live in homes with damp walls or floors, and many rely on wood as their primary fuel source. This reliance on wood creates difficulties for those attempting to utilize electricity bill subsidies, which do not cover the upfront costs of purchasing wood.

Additionally, research by the FOL Movement and the Institute Democracy for Development (D4D) highlights that fragmented administrative procedures and a lack of a single application mechanism hinder investments in renewable energy. Nearly half of applicants find the current administrative processes for renewable energy support to be difficult or very difficult due to the need to coordinate across multiple institutions.