Event
Online
23.03.2022
14:00 - 17:00

CEER Customer Conference 2022

The green transition and the digital transition are changing energy markets. Technological developments give rise to new and innovative business models, while the decarbonization process is increasing the share of renewable generation, coupled with more ambitious energy efficiency targets.

As these developments lead the way to a sustainable and green economic, the question remains on who should bare the brunt of the green transition and what tools do consumers have to navigate this changing and evolving environment. As Europe’s energy prices reached unprecedent heights in 2021, the impacts were felt by both household energy consumers and businesses. How can consumers be better informed and empowered to be active players in the energy market, access green and affordable offers and play a role in the green transition?

The CEER Customer Conference will bring together stakeholders and experts from the energy sector from across Europe, including suppliers, consumer organisations, EU institutions and energy regulators.

Programme
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Documents
23.03.2022

Draft agenda

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Programme

14:00 - 14:05

Welcome Address

14:05 - 16:00

Session 1 – A Fair Transition: Digitalisation, new business models and decarbonisation

Speakers

David Zenner

David Zenner

Head of Customers, Elia
Biography
David Zenner
Head of Customers, Elia

David Zenner (°1979) joined ELIA in 2003. As Head of Customers, he is responsible for the customer relations of the company and the creation of the necessary building blocks to evolve to a consumer-centric electricity system such as an upgraded market design, easy data access and setting up an ecosystem to facilitate the creation of “Energy-as-a-Service” business models. He was previously responsible for the activities related to operations and maintenance of the grid in different areas of Belgium.

David graduated in electromechanical engineering at Ghent University in 2002 and holds a Master of Electrical Engineering from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).

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Mark van Stiphout

Mark van Stiphout

Deputy Head of Unit B5, DG Energy
Biography
Mark van Stiphout
Deputy Head of Unit B5, DG Energy

Mark van Stiphout is currently Deputy Head of Unit in DG Energy in the unit that is responsible for Research, Innovation, Competitiveness and Digitalisation, including support for energy research and innovation in Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, and the Energy Union Competitiveness Progress Report.

Until the 1st of November 2014 he was a member of the Cabinet of the Commissioner for Energy, Günther H. Oettinger, who he advised on nuclear energy and energy research, as well as smart grids, retail markets and the relations with Russia. This included for example the Commission’s work on nuclear safety and the trilateral negotiations with Russia and Ukraine on gas supply.

Before that he was assistant to the Director-General for Energy, and from 2006 to 2010 he was responsible for the liberalisation of the internal market for natural gas as Policy Officer in DG Energy in the Electricity and Gas Unit.

Previous roles include consultancy on renewable energy projects at Ecofys and market analyst at Cogas Energie.

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Simone Accornero

Simone Accornero

CEO and Co-Founder, FlexiDAO
Biography
Simone Accornero
CEO and Co-Founder, FlexiDAO

FlexiDAO CEO & Co-founder. Simone has a wealth of experience as a cleantech entrepreneur, energy management consultant, and research engineer. Recipient of the EIT EU 2018 CHANGE Award and holder of a double MSc at KU Leuven and Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya. Simone is pioneering the energy transition by leveraging his deep knowledge of electricity markets, smart infrastructures, and his deep passion for cutting-edge digital technologies.

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Stefan Arent

Stefan Arent

Council, European Energy Regulators
Biography
Stefan Arent
Council, European Energy Regulators

Stefan Arent holds a PhD in Economics and worked four years as economic consultant at the ifo Institute before joining the German regulator in 2013. He joined BNetzA within the unit responsible for incentive regulation and benchmarking. From 2015 on he is deputy head of the unit for international coordination in energy. His focus is on consumer issues and retail markets. In this position he also co-chairs the Consumer Empowerment Work Stream at the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) and is member of the Consumer and Retail market Working Group.

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16:00 - 17:00

Session 2 – A Consumer’s Guide: managing energy consumption and navigating the energy market

Speakers

Ana Etchenique

Ana Etchenique

Vice President, Confederación de Consumidores y Usuarios (CECU)
Biography
Ana Etchenique
Vice President, Confederación de Consumidores y Usuarios (CECU)

Ana Etchenique joined CECU in 2000 and represents CECU in many different platforms and social alliances that work in climate, sustainability, green building renewal, right to health, financial exclusion, and others.

Ms Etchenique (La Paz, Bolivia, 1947) studied Political Science at the Complutense University of Madrid.

Established in 1983, CECU is a progressive, pluralist and independent organization, the first confederation based on existing consumer organizations in Spain. Priority areas in recent years have included energy poverty, housing, access to water supplies, food, transport, digital services, security and sustainability.

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Jana Haasová

Jana Haasová

Vice President, CEER
Biography
Jana Haasová
Vice President, CEER

Since joining the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) in autumn 2015, Ms. Haasová was responsible for various international dossiers, strategy, innovations in the energy sector and first and foremost consumer protection issues.

Since January 2018, Ms. Haasová is in charge of the International Affairs Department at ERO. Jana joined the General of the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) Customers and Retail Markets Working Group (CRM WG) in early 2016 and a year later the RMF TF (Retail Market Functioning Task Force), currently known as IRM WS (Innovation and Retail Markets Work Stream).

In February 2018, she became Co-Chair of IRM WS. During this period, she took part in drafting numerous reports, whitepapers and recommendations for EU energy community. Since early 2020, she is also representing ERO at the CEER General Assembly and ACER Board of Regulators. Jana co-chairs the CEER Customers and Retail Markets Working Group, and also co-chairs the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) Retail Working Group, established in 2021.

Prior to working at ERO, she held a position in Czech DSO, media and transport sectors. Ms. Haasová has a degree at the University of Economics in Prague in International trade and Business law.

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Kristian Ruby

Kristian Ruby

Secretary General, Eurelectric
Biography
Kristian Ruby
Secretary General, Eurelectric

Kristian Ruby is a widely recognised expert with a strong communication profile and extensive experience in political affairs. He joined Eurelectric from Wind Europe, where he served as Chief Policy Officer and was in charge of development and implementation of the political strategy.

Prior to this, Ruby worked as a journalist and served seven years as a public servant in the Danish Ministries of Environment, and Climate and Energy and in the European Commission in the cabinet of the former Climate Action chief, Connie Hedegaard.

Kristian holds a master degree in history and international development.

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Natalie McCoy

Natalie McCoy

Co-Chair of the Customers and Retail Market Working Group, CEER
Biography
Natalie McCoy
Co-Chair of the Customers and Retail Market Working Group, CEER

Ms McCoy joined Portugal’s Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE) in 2016 to lead its international relations. Prior to ERSE, she served as Secretary General of the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) between 2011 and 2015.

In addition to her responsibilities at ERSE, Natalie co-chairs the CEER Customers and Retail Markets Working Group, following three years as vice chair. She also co-chairs the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) Retail Working Group, established in 2021.

In parallel, she serves as co-chair of CEER’s Gas Decarbonisation Legislation Workstream, since September 2016. Natalie has more than fourteen years’ experience in energy regulation, focusing on customer rights, regulatory governance and electricity and gas market design. With an academic background in political science and EU affairs, she worked at the European Parliament prior to moving into energy regulation.

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Peter Liese

Peter Liese

Member of the European Parliament
Biography
Peter Liese
Member of the European Parliament
  • Member and EPP Coordinator in the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Substitute Member in the Committee on Budgets
  • Member in the Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America
  • Member in the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly

Medical Studies in Marburg, Aachen and Bonn. Attained his PhD from the Human Genetics Institute of the University Bonn. Occupation as doctor in Guatemala. Ward physician in the children’s hospital in Paderborn, Germany (till 1994). Physician in a group practice (1994 – 2002). District Chairman of the Junge Union (1991-1997). Member of the Council of the Municipal Bestwig (1989-1994). Member of the Central Committee of German Catholics (since 1997). Member of the federal executive Board of the CDU. Member of the European Parliament for the region Südwestfalen (South Westphalia) since 1994.

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Sorcha Edwards

Sorcha Edwards

, Housing Europe
Biography
Sorcha Edwards
, Housing Europe

Sorcha has been General Secretary of Housing of Europe, the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing since 2014. Housing Europe brings together public, cooperative and social housing providers from across Europe. They share a vision of a Europe which provides access to decent and affordable housing for all in communities which are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable and where everyone is enabled to reach their full potential. The sector manages 25 million homes and delivers over 200,000 new homes and renovations annually. Sorcha leads the team and coordinates the network for maximum impact aiming at better regulation, better knowledge and better finance for housing. Under her leadership Housing Europe is a point of reference for sustainable housing systems in Europe and beyond.

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