In pursuit of energy justice

Energy Justice provides a framework to perceive disparities in our energy system. The foundation of energy justice draws heavily from the environmental justice movement, grounded in larger issues of representation, economic relations between the state, firms and social groups. This article draws from the environmental justice movement to explore concepts of universal and particular justice. Universal energy justice holds to values stemming from judicial and philosophical groundings based in procedural, distributional and cosmopolitan justice issues. Particular energy justice relies on recognition justice of cultural and environmental factors influencing choices around energy technologies and policy preferences for the distribution of energy services. Empirically, this article examines tensions within the energy system in the European Union. It does this in two areas: First, by examining how universal energy justice is spread through National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) dealing with energy; Second, particular energy justice is exemplified by a political solution to energy poverty in Bulgaria, rather than a regulatory response, this contrasts with a Western European approach. The aim of the article is to show the pursuit of energy justice attempts to resolve tensions between groups and differing politics to both access and provide energy services.