Energy poverty has emerged as a significant concern within Slovenia, yet existing research has overlooked the demographic characteristics of those affected, a contrast to studies conducted in other countries. In this study, we scrutinized sociodemographic attributes traditionally associated with energy vulnerability in international contexts, drawing from the 2019 survey data compiled by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, which explores household energy consumption and fuel use. Our investigation revealed a notable imbalance in the distribution of various sociodemographic traits across different regions of Slovenia. Energy poor (EP) households exhibited distinct characteristics linked to transportation, education, employment, household composition, and residential conditions. These characteristics encompassed subpar housing quality, lower educational attainment, an aging population, a higher proportion of females, a rural setting, absence of pensions, and reliance on expensive heating fuels. Furthermore, our logistic regression analyses reinforced the heightened likelihood of experiencing energy poverty among individuals possessing sociodemographic indicators of vulnerability. This trend held true for the entire study sample, as well as within rural-urban divides and across individual regions. These findings underscore the imperative need to tailor policies aimed at mitigating energy poverty to specifically address these vulnerable groups. Neglecting to do so risks exacerbating existing disparities in energy access and possibly creating new forms of energy injustice.
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