Conference on the Promotion of the Rights of Energy Consumers

Date	10 - 11 Jun 2008
Location	Brussels
Host	Commissioners Meglena Kuneva and Andris Piebalgs
See the agenda	http://www.agathepower.eu/pdf/agenda.pdf - open in new window
Event URL	http://www.managenergy.tv/me_portal/mst/4337/index.html - open in new window
Released	08/06/2008
Contributor	candeloro

The European Commission adopted, on 5 July 2007, a communication entitled “Towards a European Charter on the Rights of Energy Consumers” and at the same time launched a consultation on this issue which resulted in over 70 contributions from across the EU.

As a follow-up, the Commission organised a conference in Brussels on 6 May 2008 hosted by Commissioners Meglena Kuneva and Andris Piebalgs. The half-day conference:

officially presented the results of the consultation;
launched the Citizens' Energy Forum announced in the Third Internal Energy Market Package of 19 September 2007. In parallel to existing fora dealing with electricity and gas markets, this Forum would focus on specific retail issues, and involve all stakeholders in building an EU-wide retail market.
proposed a new approach to informing consumers by means of a European Energy Consumers’ Checklist, designed to answer questions about local or regional retail markets. The Commission had prepared a list of relevant questions and it was inviting national stakeholders to provide answers that would form an easily accessible data pool containing comprehensive local information in the consumer’s language.
proposed a list of voluntary commitments by stakeholders, aimed at cooperation and improving rights beyond the existing legal framework.