The rise in energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict has brought energy affordability and supply security back to the centre of the policy debate. Higher energy prices are once again fueling inflation, raising pressure on household budgets and firms’ costs - all at a time when fiscal space is limited. Governments are therefore facing a familiar policy question: whether or not to cushion the short-term economic and social effects of the energy shock and how to do so without adding to already strained public budgets and weakening incentives to save energy.
OECD energy support measures tracker
The sharp rise in energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict is reviving a familiar policy dilemma. When energy costs jump sharply, governments come under pressure to shield households and firms. With limited fiscal space, the question is not only whether to offer support, but also how to offer it. The 2026 OECD energy support measures tracker gathers data on government interventions to cushion households and firms from the current energy price shock.
Latest tracker update: 18 May 2026
From energy shocks to stronger resilience, Economic Outlook special chapter, June 2026
Key Findings
Measures to cushion the impact of higher energy prices on households and firms should be targeted, temporary, and preserve incentives to reduce energy use. As shown in the 2022-23 energy crisis, broad, open-ended support accounted for a large share of relief measures’ fiscal costs.
Energy efficiency gains reduce the scale of supply that must be secured, while diversification strengthens the reliability of the remaining supply. These resilience measures can reduce the economic losses from future supply disruptions, but they also involve upfront costs and, in some cases, higher system costs.
