The day after the European Court of Auditors published a report criticising how the development of energy communities in the EU was being approached (see EUROPE 13824A13), the European Commission presented its ‘Citizens Energy Package’, one of three initiatives unveiled on Tuesday, 10 March (see other news).
Firstly, this package aims to ensure a “just transition” by strengthening national efforts to reduce energy poverty specifically by using not only the Social Climate Fund but also aid available through the LIFE programme, which combats energy poverty.
Secondly, the package focuses on consumers participating in energy markets at affordable prices.
The European Commission wants citizens to be able to benefit from flexible energy sales contracts and smart energy devices that optimise consumption. As a result, it has, early on in the year, undertaken to publish guidelines that aim to promote remunerating flexibility in retail sales contracts.
Furthermore, the institution will adopt technical rules to enable citizens to change providers within 24 hours.
It also encourages Member States to consider [conducting] tax reviews and to take advantage of the flexibilities that European legislation offers in order to help lower households’ electricity bills.
At present, taxes and levies on electricity represent, on average, 25% of the price for households and 15% of the price for businesses.
The Court of Auditors has criticised the institution for being overly ambitious and for the lack of legal clarity regarding the development of energy communities, but the European Commission remains confident despite these criticisms.
It aims to increase the installed renewable energy capacity of these communities tenfold by 2030, “enabling the production of renewable power for 25–30 million households.”
It estimates that the potential savings for households could be between €260 and €550 per year.
In response to the shortcomings that were highlighted, a European official pointed out that the European Commission was in the process of implementing a practical, “step-by-step” guide on creating energy communities.
It is also proposing, through the European Energy Communities Facility, a €45,000 lump-sum grant to support the deployment of energy communities, with a new call for proposals scheduled for next spring.
The ‘Citizens Energy Package’: https://aeur.eu/f/l42 (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)