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Brussels, 10/02/2016
ENER B.3 LF/AV
Subject:
Minutes for the Vulnerable Consumer Working Group meeting held
in Brussels on 26th January 2016
The 4th meeting of the Vulnerable Consumer Working Group took place at the European
Commission premises on Tuesday 26th January 2016 from 9:30-14:30. The list of
participants and the agenda are attached (see Annexes I, II). The meeting was chaired jointly
by Jan Panek, DG Energy and Carina Törnblom, DG Justice and Consumers. Below is a
summary of the key points discussed at the meeting.
1. WELCOME
The Chair (Jan Panek) welcomed the attendees. He
presented the agenda which was
adopted without additions.
2. Review of past VCWG
Eero Ailio (DG ENER)
summarized the work done so far by the VCWG and asked for
comments/suggestions on the recommendations to be presented at the Citizens' Energy
Forum in London on 23/24 February.
Heidi Ranscombe (Citizen Advice) recognized the value of validating the outcome from
our discussions at the Citizens' Energy Forum as a milestone for the Working Group.
With a renewed mandate from the next Citizens' Energy Forum, the work of the VCWG
could continue. In the light of upcoming review of energy legislation, she further
suggested that the group should be consulted in this regard.
Paolo Landi (Fondazione
Consumo Sostenibile) stressed the importance of broader participation of consumer
organizations at the Forum to match that of the industry. The
Chair (Jan Panek)
supported this approach and invited DG JUST to see how/if they can facilitate such
participation. He emphasized also to reinforce the collaboration with DG Employment.
3. Feedback on the Energy Poverty questionnaire
Oscar Guinea (DG ENER) presented the results of the energy poverty questionnaire
regarding the definition of energy poverty, indicators to measure energy poverty and
policies to tackle energy poverty. He analysed 23 responses received from group
members and considered these as a very valuable contribution for the energy poverty
report that will be presented at the London Forum.
Following the presentation, several relevant topics were discussed. Some participants
found that the issue of pricing was not recognized enough and raised the question if
access to energy should not better be handled separately. To clarify the issue
Eero Ailio
(DG ENER) recalled the distinction between lack of affordability and lack of access to
modern energy services. While lack of access is more prevalent in developing countries,
some households also in the EU lack access to modern energy services. Still, in the
majority of Member States energy poverty refers to the lack of affordability, which is
generally understood as the difficulty for households to pay for domestic energy services.
Oscar Guinea (DG ENER) thanked the group for their useful comments; it was agreed
that main parts of the discussion would be reflected in the final analysis of the
questionnaire and the report on energy poverty.
4. Reporting of the London Forum – state of play and next steps
Eero Ailio (DG ENER), presented the draft paper on "Energy Poverty in the EU:
situation, definition and measures" building
i.a. on the information from the survey and
previous meetings of the group. It is structured around four main headings of which the
first one,
the cost of energy bills, describes the growing share of disposable income spent
on energy bills that puts more and more households under the risk of falling in energy
poverty. The
concept of energy poverty considers that a common understanding of energy
poverty is needed to help Member States, civil society and industry to start an informed
dialogue about energy poverty. The third heading "
metric to measure energy poverty"
discusses relevant metrics to measure and monitor energy poverty to better understand
the depth of the problem and to assess the impact of the policies that tackle energy
poverty.
Providing targeted assistance reflects the measures that Member States have
put in place to alleviate and tackle energy poverty and identifies the good practices that
can be shared across Member States. Finally, based on this content and the work from the
VCWG-meetings the
Conclusions include six brief statements1.
In the subsequent discussion,
Sébastien Doligé (EURELECTRIC) underpinned the need
for further clarification on the distinction between energy poverty and general poverty
while several participants welcoming discussion on an integrated strategy in this regard.
To measure metrics on energy poverty more efficiently,
Thomas Lowe (EUROGAS)
suggested being more specific on how to interpret income after paying energy bills in the
conclusions. Furthermore he underlined the importance of national specificities with
regard to defining energy poverty.
Paolo Landi stressed the relevance of economic crisis
and considered median income as a key parameter for describing energy poverty. Further
comments were made on the importance of acknowledging housing tenure (
Davide
Lanzillotti, IUT) as a risk factor, managing disconnections and duly considering the
financial consequences that the use of social tariffs may imply (
Sian Jones, EAPN).
The group signalled an overall agreement about introducing a common generic concept
of energy poverty which refers to the lack of access or the inability of a low income
household to afford adequate domestic energy services. The group agreed also that any
useful metric to measure energy poverty should account for household income and
energy expenditure. Support was given also to using these concepts and indicators to
improve the quality and comparability of energy poverty data which in turn facilitates
evidence-based policymaking and research. In terms of measures the group confirmed
the need to combine short term (social policy) and longer term measures (energy
efficiency) to combat energy poverty while considering the impact of each measure on
consumer bills and competition (notably market entry and choice).
1 Annex 3
2
Additional comments were invited by 10 February after which DG ENER would
circulate a final draft report taking due account of the comments received.
5. Review of EU Energy Legislation
Guilio Volpi (DG ENER) gave a presentation on "Renewable Energy Directive and best
practises on renewable energy self-consumption". Within the broader Energy Union
goals of secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy through a fully integrated
internal energy market he highlighted the role of energy efficiency as an energy source
with its own right. He outlined the main measures in order to ensure that Europe remains
the world number one in renewables, the current and projected RES deployment situation
as well as the key issues and timetable of the review of the Renewable Energy Directive.
6. Target Assistance for Vulnerable Consumer and Energy Poor
Adam Krawczyk (Senior Statistician of the Scottish Government) presented the research
conducted on energy efficiency in private sector dwellings. This research was carried out
to assess possible levels of minimum energy efficiency standards for dwellings at the
point of rent or sale. He highlighted the importance of gathering housing condition
together with household data to understand the level of energy poverty and the possible
policies to reduce it. The Scottish Government is working with stakeholders to develop
and to pilot "Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme", which will offer support to all
buildings in Scotland to improve their energy efficiency rating; this programme will be
launched in 2017/18.
7. Closing
The
Co-chair (
Carina Törnblom, DG JUST) informed that the final version of the
discussed energy poverty report will be presented at the Citizens' Energy Forum in
London on 23-24 February.
She concluded the meeting by thanking all for active participation and recalled that the
next meeting is likely to be held in April/May pending on the results of the London
Forum (further details will follow).
3
ANNEX I
List of Participants
European
Mr
AILIO
Eero
DG ENER B.3
Commission
Ms
CLAERBOUT
Marie
ENGIE
France
European
Ms
CORNELIS
Marine
NEON
Commission
Ms
COSAC
Arina
OFGEM
United Kingdom
European
Ms
FIRLOVA
Katerina
ERO/CEER
Organisation
Ludovica
European
Ms
FONDI
CEDEC
Sara
Organisation
European
Mr
FRIEDEL
Michael
DG ENER B.3
Commission
Mr
GRAHAM
Cosmo
University of Leicester
United Kingdom
Mr
GREVISSE
Francois
FdSS
France
European
Mr
GUINEA
Oscar
DG ENER B.3
Commission
Ms
HAASOVA
Jana
ERO CZ
Czech Republic
European
Ms
JONES
Sian
EAPN
organisation
Mr
KRAWCZYK
Adam
Scottish Government
Scotland
European
Ms
LAWNA
Maria
EASME/EC
Organisation
Mr
LANDI
Paolo
Fondazione Consumo Sostenibile
Italy
European
Mr
LANZILLOTTI
P. Davide
International Union of Tenants
Organisation
European
Mr
LOWE
Thomas
EUROGAS
Organisation
Ms
LUBGANE
Krista
Ministry of Economics
Latvia
European
Ms
MARIN
Nadia
DG JUST
Commission
European
Mr
PANEK
Jan
DG ENER B.3
Commission
Mr
PICHLER
Florian
E-Control
Austria
Ms
RANSCOMBE
Heidi
Citizens advice
United Kingdom
Ms
SAIJETS
Heli
Ministry of Employment
Finland
Ms
SUTO
Timea
Ministry of National Employment
Hungary
Mr
SZYMANSKI
Akadiusz
Ministry of Economy
Poland
European
Ms
TÖRNBLOM
Carina
DG JUST E.6
Commission
Ms
VARVESI
Marina
AISFOR
Italy
European
Ms
VIVARELLI
Silvia
EASME/EC
Organisation
European
Ms
WARDAL
Katarzyna
EFIEES
Organisation
4
ANNEX II
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR ENERGY
Directorate B - Internal Energy Market
B.3 - Retail markets; coal & oil
VULNERABLE CONSUMER WORKING GROUP
AGENDA
Brussels, 26 January 2016, 09:30 - 14:30
Venue: Meeting room DM 24 03/047 - SALLE G.HANREICH
Rue De Mot 24, 1040 Brussels
09:30
Welcome: Jan Panek, Head of Unit B.3, DG ENER and Carina Törnblom,
Head of Unit E.6, DG JUST
09:45
Feedback on the Energy Poverty questionnaire
Summary of the responses
Presentation and Q&A
Oscar Guinea, DG ENER B.3
10:30
Coffee Break
10:45
Reporting to the London Forum - state of play / next steps
Draft paper 'Energy poverty in the EU: situation, definition and
measures'
Presentation and discussion
Eero Ailio, DG ENER B.3
12:30
Lunch Break
13:30
Review of EU Energy Legislation Renewable Energy Directive and Best practices on Renewable Energy
Self Consumption
Short Presentation and Q&A
Guilio Volpi, DG ENER C.1
14:00
Targeted Assistance for Vulnerable Consumers and Energy Poor
Minimum energy efficiency standards in houses for sale or rent. The
case of Scotland.
Presentation and Q&A
Adam Krawczyk, Scottish Government
14:30
Closing
*
* *
5
ANNEX III
1. The concept of energy poverty refers to either to the lack of access or the inability of a
household to afford adequate domestic energy services.
2. Any metric used to monitor the level of energy poverty should account for household's
energy needs and household income after paying for the energy bill.
3. Member States must improve the monitoring of energy poverty. Starting with the
concept of energy poverty proposed in this paper, Member States should establish a
metric to measure the level of energy poverty. The experiences in England and Austria
represent good examples on how to measure energy poverty.
4. Better information of the housing stock is required. A House Stock Condition Survey
linked to the National Household Budget Survey will inform policy makers about the
social characteristics of the households and the physical characteristics of the houses
where low-income and vulnerable households live.
5. Financial support through the welfare system remains the most effective measure to
provide instant support to households facing energy poverty.
6. Energy efficiency programmes should allocate a share of their investments to be spent
on the energy poor and vulnerable households or the most deprived areas.
6