WRITTEN QUESTION E-1789/00 by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission. Disfunctions in the calculation of electricity prices in Spain.
Date: 2000-06-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, economic analysis, electrical energy, price fluctuation, price reduction

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/41

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(5 October 2000)

The Commission is informed by the Spanish authorities that the Asturian Rural Accommodation Network
has not received Community aid.

It should be said however that during the 1994-1999 period € 8 500 000 from the Structural Funds
(European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (Guidance Section) and European Regional Devel-
opment Fund) was committed for rural tourism development in the Autonomous Community of Asturias
under the Leader II Community Initiative and the Proder Operational Programme.

(2001/C 113 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1789/00

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(8 June 2000)

Subject: Disfunctions in the calculation of electricity prices in Spain

In accordance with a custom which has become habitual in the period since the new Commission took
office, a report concerning the Spanish electricity sector has found its way into the Spanish press.
According to that report the price of electricity has fallen by 16 % over the last three years.

Since it may be feared that the purpose of this press report is to create a favourable environment for the
approval of public aid (CTCs) for the sector and that the Commission will become the laughing stock of
Spanish consumers who do not see any actual evidence of this reduction.

Can the Commission answer the following:

(cid:129) Would it confirm or deny the report to the effect that the price of electricity in Spain has fallen by

16 %?

(cid:129) What calculations has the Commission made?

(cid:129) Could the Commission provide a breakdown of those calculations, distinguishing between industrial

and domestic consumers?

(cid:129) Is the Commission aware of the studies carried out by the National Electricity Grid Committee,

according to which the price of electricity increased in both 1998 and 1999?

(cid:129) Are the Commission(cid:146)s calculations incorrect and, if so, why?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2000)

One of the most visible effects of the opening-up of electricity markets, lower electricity prices, is, in
1.
the opinion of
the Commission, becoming a reality in the Community (communication from the
Commission to the Council and the Parliament (cid:145)Recent progress with building the internal electricity
market(cid:146) (1)). Statistics on electricity price trends in Spain from 1996 until 1999 show that prices have
fallen. Annex 2 of the Commission communication shows that nominal prices of electricity have fallen in
Spain (i) for domestic consumers, by 15,1 %, (ii) for small enterprises, by 18,4 %, and (iii) for industry in
general, by 16,2 %. The drop by 16 % mentioned by the Spanish press and the Honourable Member is
most likely the result of a simple arithmetical average of the three figures above. These figures are
published by Eurostat and are on the basis of prices in Euros. If the same type of figures are provided in
national currencies, the nominal prices of electricity in Spain have fallen by 12,5 % for households, by
16 % for small enterprises, and by 13,7 % for industry in general (July 1996-July 1999).

C 113 E/42

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

The Commission is aware of various studies published by the Spanish electricity and gas regulator
2.
((cid:145)Comisi(cid:243)n Nacional de la Energ(cid:237)a(cid:146)). In particular,
it is worth mentioning the comparative study CNSE
OI002/99, published in the internet site (cid:145)http/wwwint.cne.es/pdf/OI001_99.pdf(cid:146). The Comisi(cid:243)n Nacional
notes in paragraphs 20 and 30 of the report that prices of electricity in Spain for the years 1997 and 1998
have fallen. The Commission is not aware of the studies carried out by the Comisi(cid:243)n Nacional and
mentioned by the Honourable Member where it is allegedly stated that prices of electricity have increased
in Spain both for 1998 and 1999.

The Commission also notes that
the Comisi(cid:243)n Nacional has, on various occasions, provided the
Commission with various charts and figures that show again that nominal prices of electricity have fallen
by 7,8 % for domestic consumers, and by 12,1 % for industrial consumers. Differences between these
figures and those calculated by the Commission are probably due to the use of a different methodology. In
particular, prices used by the Comisi(cid:243)n Nacional include the tax on the Spanish electricity for 1998 and
1999, whereas the figures from the Commission are tax excluded.

(1) COM(2000) 297 final.

(2001/C 113 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1791/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) and Sergio Berlato (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Harmonisation of the prices of petroleum products

(8 June 2000)

It is common knowledge that the prices of petroleum products differ greatly from one Member State to the
next. As at 1 December 1999, prices for unleaded petrol ranged from ITL 1 378 per litre in Greece to
ITL 1 946 per litre in Italy, while heating oil cost ITL 752 per litre in Austria and ITL 1 544 in Italy. Now
the price of petrol in Italy has risen again, and diesel oil has reached ITL 1 705 per litre. The prices of
these products in Italy are far higher than the European average. In the Commission(cid:146)s view:

1.

2.

what are the reasons for these divergences?

can a single market in petroleum products ever be established as long as prices differ so greatly?

do such differences not undermine competitiveness, to the detriment, in particular, of those countries

3.
and areas (such as mountain areas in the case of heating oil) where prices are high?

4.

what, if any, are the objective obstacles preventing it from proposing harmonisation in this area?

why are the higher costs for heating products not taken into account in the measures relating to the

5.
less-favoured mountain areas, given their cooler climate?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

1.
The structure of fuel prices is composed of three principal factors: the cost of the crude, the refining
cost and distribution, and finally taxes. In general, fuel price differentials are mainly due to differences in
tax levels and in particular the way each Member State applies the fiscal provisions included in the
Community legislation. Differences in competitive structures of the markets can also play a role.

2.
Since 1992 the Community system for taxing energy products has been based essentially on two
directives relating to excise duties on mineral oils, which were drawn up with a view to establishing the
internal market on 1 January 1993. These are Council Directives 92/81/EEC (1) and 92/82/EEC1 (2), which
establish a minimum tax level for each mineral oil to be applied Community-wide according to its use