Energy

Follow related News and events or Publications Contact us

Latest News

Dynamic electricity pricing: the missing piece in the clean heating transition?

Dynamic electricity pricing can offer consumers some substantial savings on their energy bills, but its full potential is still yet to take off. These...

Energy markets Renewable energy
Letta report identifies untapped potential of Single Market for consumers

The report published today by Enrico Letta from the Jacques Delors Institute is a welcome effort to remove barriers that prevent the Single Market...

Enforcement
Missed opportunity to make consumer home renovation easier

European legislators have reached an underwhelming deal on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which will not make it substantially...

Energy consumer rights
Consumers to get much-needed rights and protections from their gas supplier

Consumers will get much-needed new protections from their gas suppliers after European lawmakers struck a deal today on the EU’s ‘Gas Market Package’.

Energy markets Energy consumer rights
Buying and installing a heat pump: how hard can it be? New BEUC research

Consumers are increasingly looking to heat pumps to reduce their energy bills and their emissions. But making the switch from fossil fuels to green...

Renewable energy
Topics
Energy consumer rights
Energy markets
Renewable energy
Consumer groups outline recommendations for Brexit talks
Consumer groups outline recommendations for Brexit talks
- PDF Document - 62.64 KB

EU-UK relations
Transparency & governance
Available in English, French
With the Brexit talks about to start, EU consumer groups have outlined how the interests of EU and UK consumers should be protected during the negotiations. The European Consumer Organisation and its members want any decisions related to the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU, and its subsequent relationship, to be assessed against the impact on consumers.
Read more
Commission’s energy package is mixed bag for consumers
Commission’s energy package is mixed bag for consumers
- PDF Document - 174.75 KB

Energy markets
Energy consumer rights
Ecodesign & Energy label
Renewable energy
Available in English, French
Today the European Commission is releasing a set of proposals to reform the EU energy market, particularly for electricity. The Commission has understood that for the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy market to be a success, consumers need to become more involved in energy markets. Therefore, the Commission is keen to improve the clarity and quality of information consumers receive on their energy consumption, particularly on bills or through new, smart technologies. The Commission is also releasing its long-awaited Ecodesign work plan which sets design standards for energy-using products so they become more efficient and cut energy bills for consumers. On the downside, however, consumers who have invested in solar panels to produce their own electricity could find the road bumpier in the future.
Read more

Despite many attempts for improvement, the energy market is still a sector of great concern to European consumers as it has many failures: there is concern over complex tariffs, rising prices, poor service or mis-selling, the difficulty of switching and confusion over what consumers can do to lower their bills, including how to be energy efficient.

Access to affordable energy is a real worry for consumers, particularly for vulnerable groups such as those with a low income. Despite the opening of the markets, competition remains limited, restricting consumer choice and driving up prices. Unfair commercial practices such as aggressive doorstep-selling are another source of consumer frustration in the energy market.

‘Smart technologies’ such as smart meters are heralded as the future and they are claimed to offer benefits to consumers. Yet they raise numerous questions about their true potential to deliver real benefits to consumers, as well as risks related to privacy and cost increases.

  • Ensure energy is affordable and available to all consumers

  • Enable consumers to easily choose between various energy suppliers and switch to the best deal

  • Ensure that smart energy systems and other new developments are affordable and designed to benefit consumers