Measuring energy poverty in rural Albania: A multidimensional and context-sensitive approach

Energy poverty is a significant issue in the Western Balkans, particularly in rural Albania, where economic vulnerability and infrastructural limitations hinder access to reliable energy. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of energy poverty in the rural Municipality of Kavaja. The Alkire-Foster methodology developed a multidimensional index from 14 indicators across economic, energy, and subjective well-being dimensions. Data were gathered from 215 individuals through a digital survey conducted under the EU-funded GETA project. The analysis tested various weighting schemes and cut-off thresholds to ensure robustness. Results indicate that energy poverty is widespread, with over 50% of individuals classified as deprived even under stringent criteria. Economic deprivation, often combined with subjective discomfort, is the dominant factor, emphasising the inadequacy of infrastructure-based assessments alone. The study highlights the need for multidimensional, context-sensitive measurement and targeted policy interventions, offering a replicable framework that can be applied to other rural and transitional regions.