Energy Citizenship. A Theoretical Framework for the Analysis of Social Vulnerability in the Energy Sector

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the social risks associated with the energy transition in a context of market liberalization, with a particular focus on the issue of energy poverty. This article aims to contribute to the debate by proposing an innovative approach through the construction of a theoretical framework centered on the identification of four conditions through which citizens may find themselves confronted with energy systems: integration, vulnerability, assistance and exclusion. This theoretical framework articulates social complexity beyond the simple dichotomy of energy poverty/non-poverty, highlighting how the transition, which is developing through neo-liberal policies, generates differentiated social stratifications. The four conditions, which we will call ‘zones of energy citizenship’, provide analytical tools to guide energy policies so that they are targeted at the specificities of each social zone.