Ukraine's information policy in the energy sector should be better
On September 13-24, the Sociological Group Rating conducted a survey requested by DiXi Group and partners on the views of Ukrainians on the challenges in the energy sector. The survey was conducted among 2,000 respondents from all over Ukraine, except for the occupied parts. A full report analyzing the survey results is still being prepared and will be published later.
The surveyed Ukrainians identified 3 priorities for state policy in the energy sector: affordability of prices, energy independence, and the fight against monopolies. At the same time, during the discussion of the study on the podcast “Ukrainians' Views on Challenges in the Energy Sector” on Friday, October 25, experts concluded that in order to achieve energy independence and combat hostile narratives, the state's information policy in the energy sector should be significantly improved.
You can watch the recording of the event by this link: https://www.facebook.com/dixiUA/videos/892321336193588/
Andrii Andrusevych, Senior Analyst at the Resource and Analysis Center “Society and Environment”, drew attention to the connection between affordability of prices and reduction of consumption and energy efficiency, which, according to citizens, should be the last step in public policy.
“These are two interconnected measures, consumption reduction and energy efficiency lead to affordable prices,” explains Andrusevych. “Such a total gap indicates the lack of awareness of this connection among the population and the problem of information policy in the state.”
Improving energy efficiency and reducing electricity losses are considered important by only 18% of Ukrainians, and stimulating private investment in the construction of new power plants by 13%.
Executive Director of the Association “Energy Efficient Cities of Ukraine” Svyatoslav Pavlyuk, commenting on the general results of the survey and the respondents' answers, noted the insufficient level of understanding of the importance of energy efficiency measures by the population.
“With such an attitude to energy efficiency, we will not achieve energy independence,” the expert emphasized, “We will consume many times more than we need, regardless of whether we produce it domestically or import it."
The results of citizens' answers to the question about the cause of power outages in Ukraine were unexpected. Only 58% of respondents named damage to the energy infrastructure as a result of hostile attacks as the main reason for the blackouts. At the same time, 35% believe in political and commercial reasons for blackouts, such as allegedly massive electricity exports or deliberate creation of shortages to raise prices.
DiXi Group Research Director noted that such provocative answers were deliberately added to the survey to understand people's real opinions about blackouts. Roman Nitsovych called these results a problem in the state's information policy, which should more effectively counteract hostile attacks and outright disinformation.