Energy Regulators (CEER) welcome the “New Deal”
for energy consumers in the European Commission’s Retail Market Communication,
agreeing with the Commission that a “New Deal” for consumers means putting
consumers centre stage of a thriving and functioning energy system.
Developing a fit-for-purpose market design that
puts consumers at its core
CEER believes that the New Deal also means
developing a fit-for-purpose design for the market itself, which allows the
regulatory framework and market rules to adapt.
Reiterating regulators’ proposals (in the
“Bridge to 2025” paper) to develop a regulatory framework that supports a
future-proof market design, Lord Mogg, President of CEER, noted:
“If Europe is serious
about putting customers on the centre-stage of a thriving and functioning
energy system, the European Commission’s planned proposals must deliver a
fit-for-purpose market design that links wholesale and retail energy markets.
CEER remains fully committed to working with the Commission on concrete actions
to implement the New Deal.”
CEER believes that retail markets must be kept
simple. In order to bridge the complexity of spot markets with the simplicity
required by retail markets, CEER underlines the centrality of promoting its
RASPE principles (Reliability, Affordability, Simplicity, Protection and
Empowerment) in a consumer-centric model for energy markets.
CEER calls for swift
actions to help deliver the New Deal
– Member States should fully implement the
Third Energy Legislative Package and phase out regulated prices
– EU policymakers should deliver a
fit-for-purpose market design linking wholesale and retail markets
– All energy actors should embed the RASPE
(Reliability, Affordability, Simplicity, Protection and Empowerment) principles into everything they
do
– Regulators should collaborate with consumer
protection bodies, ombudsmen, data protection agencies and other enforcement
authorities to ensure effective enforcement of energy consumer rights, so that
they are adequately empowered and vulnerable customers are protected.
CEER committed to contributing to making retail
markets work for consumers
With this Retail Market Communication, the
Commission proposes to work with regulators on:
(1) clearer bills and minimum standards in
bills and on advertising
(2) comparability of offers, ensuring every
consumer has access to a price comparison tool (PCT)
(3) regulatory approaches to incentivising
Distribution System Operators (DSOs) to cost-effectively engage in innovation
and act as neutral market facilitators
These 3 areas of action sit comfortably with
CEER’s own priorities, including supplier switching, and we welcome the
opportunity to engage with the European Commission on these critical issues.
CEER’s new Conclusions Paper on the Role of Distribution System Operators
(DSOs) and our imminent paper on well-functioning retail markets complement
well the Commission’s analysis of key drivers for a New Deal for energy
consumers.
For more, see our newly published CEER
Statement on Delivering a New Deal for Energy Consumers for concrete examples
of how CEER’s recent work contributes to delivering the New Deal, be it from
work on flexibility through to our monitoring of retail markets.
For more: Click here