Energy poverty is defined using a residual-income approach: households are energy-poor if their income, after housing and energy costs, falls below the poverty threshold. Without relief, income poverty would have risen by 0.29 percentage points, and energy poverty by over two points. The relief measures – especially housing benefit reform and the gas price cap – significantly cushioned these effects. Including behavioral adjustments, most of the burden is offset.

Distributional outcomes were mixed: absolute relief favored higher incomes, but relative gains were progressive. Behavioral responses helped reduce both household burdens and emissions. However, broad price interventions (e.g., fuel tax rebate) were regressive and environmentally harmful. The findings underscore the value of targeted, accessible transfers that maintain price signals. The paper concludes with policy lessons for integrated crisis response strategies.