Energy poverty: conceptualization and its link to exclusion. Brief review for Latin America

Abstract Energy is a critical input for any socioeconomic system and it has become a central point in sustainable development worldwide. Energy deprivation in its various degrees has given rise to the term Energy Poverty. The deprivations in access and quality of energy services sustained over time are elements that generate social exclusion processes and limit the development of the countries with these characteristics. The aim of this paper is to deepen the conceptual discussion of energy poverty and exclusion and the background regarding its measurement, as well as its link with the Just Energy Transition. Descriptive statistics are explored to assess the situation in the Latin American region. It is concluded that the limitations in access to basic energy services are significant, affecting more severely the population of countries with a low level of output and less socioeconomically favored.