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• A set of indexes to measure energy efficiency achieved in local areas is proposed. • The distance of each observation from efficient/ideal threshold is calculated. • Pilot testing was performed on 20 Regions of Italy. • A support to policy makers in financial resource programming is offered. The basic idea of this paper is that an efficient energy planning requires a deepened awareness of the state of place. By considering the complexity of this issue - that involves both production, consumption, impacts on the environment and policy aspects - a multidimensional analysis should be implemented. The aim of the study is to propose an innovative approach for achieving increased efficiency energy by reducing the existent differential among the local areas. The approach consists of two main steps: i) the building of LEEI (Local Energy efficiency Index) and further four sub-indexes - designed by using a Principal Component Analysis - for assessing the level of local efficiency; ii) the measurement of the distance between the score achieved in the ranking by each observation and a threshold calculated as best compromise situation - realized by using a redrafted Sen Index. This methodology has been tested on a sample of 20 Italian provinces. The findings allow to provide information to policy makers concerning the overall energy efficiency of an area through a vertical comparison among the observation; while the four sub-indexes offer specific indication about the multidimensionality of the analysed phenomenon. This final step helps to offer punctual information for a future allocation to the regions, for a financial resource programming on the bases of the real weakness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]