SOCIAL ORIENTATION OF ENERGY POLICY: UKRAINIAN REALITIES AND EXPERIENCE OF EU COUNTRIES

Abstract

Violation of infrastructural connections due to military actions, lack of financial, investment and material and technical resources, limited solvency of the population - all this has led to the fact that Ukraine, at the current stage of economic development, is at a very low socio-economic level, so questions about reflection of social orientation in the state energy policy of Ukraine, establishment of problems and tools for solving social problems in this area is extremely relevant. The purpose of the article is to develop recommendations for finding ways to solve the problem of protecting vulnerable consumers as a component of social orientation in the state energy policy. Methods used in the research: comparative analysis, detailing and generalization, comparison and grouping, etc. The hypothesis of the research was the assumption that in the conditions of war, new approaches to the formation of energy security in the national dimension should be sought, including taking into account vulnerable sections of the population. Presenting main material. Statistical analysis shows that the factors of deepening energy poverty have become actualized in Ukraine. It was determined that energy poverty can be caused by a combination of the following factors: low income; inefficient buildings and devices in them; high energy prices; lack of information on incentive tools to reduce energy consumption. It is emphasized that energy poverty is caused by lack of access to electricity and lack of clean energy for cooking. It is summarized that the issue of strengthening the protection of socially vulnerable consumers is becoming extremely acute and is gaining scale of national importance. Originality and practical significance of the research. All parties involved in ensuring competition on energy markets should be actively involved in the most beneficial way for consumers. The stated thesis should become a source and constant for state institutions, regulatory bodies, consumer organizations, business organizations, scientists and others. Conclusions. Solving the problem of protecting vulnerable consumers and overcoming the devastating impact of war on the situation with energy poverty is possible through the implementation of the policy of social support of the population through the development of the Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights with the provision of maximum openness of the activities of energy infrastructure entities, the use of a public control mechanism, and the creation of an energy platform and monitoring. The issue of energy poverty is directly related to the issue of ensuring the energy security of the country, which, in turn, is an integral component of national security.