Energy regulators call on EU law-makers to shape the right regulatory framework for Self-Consumers and Local Energy Communities

Press Release (PR-17-05)

·         Renewable self-consumption and energy communities welcomed but must be fair

·         Consumers should be able to switch supplier within 24-hours

·         Priority dispatch for existing renewables should be removed


Powering towards Clean Energy in a way that benefits all consumers and creates a level playing field was the theme of today’s 2017 conference of the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER)1.

Renewable self-consumption and energy communities welcomed but must be fair

Whilst welcoming self-consumption and energy communities, CEER calls on legislators to shape the right regulatory framework for such new structures and roles in a way that protects all consumers2:

  • Consumer involvement in energy communities should be voluntary with consumer rights protected

  • Cross-subsidies between active and inactive/vulnerable customers should be avoided: use cost-reflective network tariffs and avoid “net metering”3

  • Energy communities that operate as Distribution System Operator (DSO) should be regulated as a DSO

CEER President, Lord Mogg, explained:

“Regulators welcome the choice and consumer empowerment opportunities of renewable self-consumption and energy communities. However, consumer rights such as the right to join a local energy community or leave it to switch supplier must also be ensured.”

The CEER White Paper on Renewable Self-Consumers and Energy Communities sets out 7 core principles to protect consumers rights4.

Consumers should be able to switch supplier within 24-hours

Retail energy market competition must be further enhanced through tools and clear price signals.  CEER President, Lord Mogg, said:

“If we want consumers to be active in energy markets, they need to be able to react to and benefit from price signals.  Consumers should be able to switch within 24 hours.  3-weeks duration to switch supplier is no longer acceptable.”

Priority dispatch for existing renewables should be removed

With renewables a central part of the sector (accounting for over 28% of electricity demand across Europe), regulators call on legislators to fully integrate renewables into the wholesale market:

  • All participants should have balancing responsibility

  • Priority dispatch for existing as well as new RES plants should be removed so that it is the cheapest plants (irrespective of plant type5) that sun, minimising consumer electricity prices

A series of short Regulatory White Papers (www.ceer.eu/white-papers) outlines regulators' positions on a range of issues (renewables, customers, networks etc.) in the Clean Energy proposals. 

 

Brussels, 19 September 2017

Ends (see Notes for Editors)

Contact:

una.shortall@ceer.eu

Tel: +32 2 788 73 31