In Italy, over 5 million people live in energy poverty.

Almost 10 percent of Italian families, a total of 5-6 million people, are in a condition of energy poverty: they are unable to obtain or pay for the energy needed to live with dignityThe phenomenon has accelerated significantly in recent years. Why? And which geographical areas are most affected?

What is energy poverty in Italy?

La energy poverty in Italy It does not only coincide with a bill too highIt is a broader and more insidious condition, which affects families unable to adequately access essential energy services, such as heating, cooling, hot water, lighting and electricity for household appliancesIn concrete terms, this means living in homes that are too cold in the winter, too hot in the summer, unhealthy, or otherwise unsuitable for a decent standard of living.

The causes of energy poverty in Italy are almost always intertwined. There is the factor of low income, which makes any increase in costs immediately burdensome. Then there is the issue of inefficient housing, often old, poorly insulated and with obsolete systems, which waste energy and force you to spend more to obtain less comfort. Added to this is the weight of the energy prices, which in recent years have hit especially hard those who already had limited incomes. Energy poverty, in short, is one of the most obvious ways in which inequality manifests itself: those with fewer resources often end up paying more, or having to forgo some of their essential needs. And this is where the issue perfectly intersects with the philosophy of do not waste: not wasting energy also means not wasting health, well-being and quality of life.

Where energy poverty is concentrated in Italy

La energy poverty in Italy It doesn't affect the entire country equally. There are areas where the problem is more severe due to a combination of economic fragility, weak housing stock, and less efficient services. The phenomenon tends to have a greater impact in areas where families live in energy-intensive homes, with low incomes and little opportunity to intervene to improve the systems or thermal insulation.

The map of the energy poverty in Italy The situation is very fragmented. The difficulties are most visible in several small municipalities, in the suburbs, and in some areas where social vulnerability is already high. There are also clear differences between regions, as the burden of energy bills varies based on income, housing quality, climate, and household composition. Therefore, talking about energy poverty in Italy also means discussing regional imbalances, with some areas better able to withstand rising costs and others where the daily struggle is more acute.

Why energy poverty in Italy has increased so much in recent years

The rise of the energy poverty in Italy in recent years has a fairly clear explanation. The first factor was the energy price shock Following the international crisis that hit the markets between 2021 and 2022, even as the worst of the crisis subsided, electricity and gas prices did not return to truly comfortable levels for families. For those already in precarious circumstances, this was enough to slide into a state of permanent hardship.

But energy poverty in Italy It hasn't grown only because of the high cost of bills. It has also had an impact ongeneral increase in the cost of living, weak wages, inflation on essential goods, and the fact that a significant portion of Italy's housing stock remains inefficient. If a family lives in a home that loses heat or overheats too easily, it becomes more expensive every winter and summer. Bonuses have cushioned the blow, but they haven't always been enough to correct a structural problem. This is why energy poverty in Italy today doesn't appear as a temporary emergency, but as a profound sign of social fragility.

How the artificial intelligence boom could impact

The boom in artificial intelligence enters the debate on energy poverty in Italy in a less theoretical way than it might seem. AI works thanks to very energy-intensive infrastructures, starting from data center that power models, clouds, and digital services. If this consumption continues to grow rapidly, it will also increase the pressure on electricity demand, networks, and the investments needed to support the system.

For Italy, this issue is far from marginal. The growth of data centers is concentrated primarily in the economically strongest and best-connected areas, while other parts of the country remain more fragile. The risk is not that artificial intelligence will directly deprive households of energy, but that it will contribute to increased competition for infrastructure, network capacity, and available energy. In such a scenario, the energy poverty in Italy It could become even more difficult to counteract if the digital transformation is not accompanied by public leadership capable of balancing innovation and equity.

How artificial intelligence can make things worse

Artificial intelligence can make things worse energy poverty in Italy if it is allowed to grow unregulated, without energy planning, and without a criterion for social equilibrium. Large AI systems require continuous computational capacity, cooling, new grid connections, and enormous investments. If a growing share of energy and infrastructure is absorbed by this ecosystem, part of the costs risks falling on the entire electricity system.

There's a second problem, less visible but no less important. AI tends to concentrate wealth, services, and power in territories and businesses that already have an advantage. If this process isn't managed, even the geography of the energy poverty in Italy It could worsen, with strong areas equipped with advanced infrastructure and weak areas where vulnerability remains chronic. To avoid this scenario, the growth of artificial intelligence must be accompanied by more renewables, more robust grids, greater efficiency, and social compensation tools.

What are the possible solutions?

To reduce the energy poverty in Italy concrete solutions are needed, not episodic measures. The first concerns thehousing efficiency, especially those where the most vulnerable households live: thermal insulation, replacement of older systems, less energy-intensive appliances, targeted interventions on social housing and homes with the highest energy consumption. Here, the principle of non-waste takes on a very practical meaning: a home that consumes less pollutes less, but above all, protects its residents from unsustainable expenses.

The second lever concerns the economic supports, which must be simpler, more understandable, and better targeted. To truly combat energy poverty in Italy, social incentives must precisely reach families in need, without becoming overly complicated or insufficient mechanisms. Alongside this, public investments are needed in networks, renewables, and forms of energy sharing, such as energy communities. Then there's a cultural issue that weighs more heavily than one might think: many families don't waste energy by choice, but because they lack the tools, information, or technology to manage it better. Managing consumption more efficiently is also a serious response to this. energy poverty in Italy.