Source: http://docplayer.net/769472-Working-group-report-consumers-as-energy-market-actors.html
Timestamp: 2019-01-21 00:22:21
Document Index: 421342526

Matched Legal Cases: ['Art. 3', 'Art. 36', 'art. 15', 'art. 15', 'art. 17', 'art. 17', 'Art. 19', 'Art 3', 'Art. 3', 'Art. 3', 'Art. 3']

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1 Working Group Report Consumers as Energy Market Actors 1. Mandate of the Working Group Energy markets in Consumption figures and trends Prices and costs Market actors and factors Legislation European legislation Consumer rights [Implementation and enforcement] Forms of active energy usership and citizenship Demand side response (DSR) Demand-side flexibility (DSF) Micro-generation An example from Finland Involving consumers in energy efficiency choices An example from the UK: repowering London An example from Sweden Technological innovation: the potential in gas for heating Collective switching Energy cooperatives Community-based energy projects Intermediaries Recommendations Competitive markets and EU policy design Transparency, user-friendly information & trustworthy advice Regulatory framework & governance Support of innovation, energy efficiency at home and demand response Stock taking of market developments Extension of the Mandate of the Working Group Annex A: Input by Working Group members and invited speakers Examples of cooperatives working on energy Examples of collective switching campaigns
2 3. Examples of collective switching and community energy schemes in the UK Input by BEUC on collective switching campaigns across Europe Intermediaries in Sweden Problems encountered or complaints received Annex B: Members of the Working Group:
3 1. Mandate of the Working Group Following the mandate by the 6th Citizens' Energy Forum, this Working Group has: reviewed the existing legislative framework to assess whether the conditions are in place for energy consumers 1 to participate actively in energy markets and for the energy industry and network to be able to provide them with the necessary services; looked into new forms of active energy usership by which consumers, individually and collectively, seek better deals and consume in a sustainable manner; highlighted relevant national practices and produced recommendations on the basis of submissions from Working Group members (see participants and invited speakers in annex). The Working Group has focused more specifically on: the role of consumers and their potential gains from demand response, energy efficiency and other new innovative services; the presentation of some existing practices, including both individual actions, such as micro-generation, as well as collective bottom-up initiatives, such as collective switching or energy cooperatives. The working method of the group consisted in: meeting four times (on , , and );holding several conference calls; exchanging views per and providing comments and input for the present interim Report is two successive rounds between December 2014 and present. It is important to acknowledge in preamble that the practices presented in this interim report are only examples and many energy consumers do not have the opportunity, resources or skills to engage in related projects. 1 For the rest of the report this term will refer to household consumers only (not to industrial end-users, or SMEs). 3
4 2. Energy markets in Consumption figures and trends Energy policy in the European Union is conditioned by the targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increasing the use of renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency for the near future (2020) 2 and in the mid-term (2030) 3, coupled with long-term energy consumption and production pathways (the 2050 decarbonisation roadmap) 4. European consumersstand to gain from this profound transition in terms of quality of life, better air quality and security of supply. At the same time, considering that 26% of all EU energy is consumed by households, the individual and collective choices of consumers will also contribute towards the success of this transition. Figure 1: Shares EU final energy consumption by sector 5 The EU is progressing towards these targets while at the same time opening up Member State energy markets, at wholesale and retail level, to competition. These two parallel activities are complementary as market competition is expected to provide the flexibility and price signals for the optimal allocation of resources. Energy efficiency improvements in buildings can save money for consumers. EU households spend on average 6.4% of their disposable income on home-related energy use, about two thirds for heating and one-third for other purposes 6. In 2012 almost 11% of the population of European Environment Agency, January 2015, 6 Energy Efficiency and its contribution to energy security and the 2030 Framework for climate and energy policy, Brussels, , COM (2014) 520 final, p
5 the EU were unable to keep their homes adequately warm 7. This is driven by rising energy prices largely due to the sharp rise of taxes and levies on energy bills - whose effect has however been mitigated by increased competition in the internal energy market and by increased energy efficiency. Following the introduction of efficiency requirements in building codes, new buildings today consume only half as much as typical buildings from the 1980s. However, 64% of space heaters, for example, are still inefficient, at best low-temperature models 8, and 44% of windows are still single glazed 9. New efficiency and labelling standards for space and water heaters will soon start to impact the market. For electricity, more efficient appliances are expected to save consumers 100 billion annually by 2020 on their energy bills, equivalent to 465 per household. Figure 2: Final energy demand in the residential sector Prices and costs The price that consumers pay for electricity and gas reflects various elements, influenced by both market forces, regulatory decisions and government policy. The energy element of the bill consists of two parts. First, the wholesale element of prices normally reflects the costs of fuel purchase or production and shipping and processing, as well as the costs of constructing, operating and decommissioning power stations. Second, the retail element covers costs related 7 Ibid. p European Heating Industry, data for 2012, EU28 excluding Cyprus, Luxembourg and Malta. 9 Preparatory study under the Ecodesign Directive, VHK, draft results. 10 EU Energy, Transport and GHG Emissions Trends to 2050 Reference Scenario 2013, December 2013, at page 37, 5
6 to the sale of energy to final consumers. Network costs reflect transmission and distribution infrastructure costs related to the operation, maintenance and expansion of grids, system services and network losses. Charges are often added to network tariffs to cover other costs such as those related to public service obligations and technology support. Finally, taxes and levies are applied; these may be part of general taxation (VAT, excise duties) or specific levies to support targeted energy and/or climate policies. 11 Figure 3: Household Electricity & Gas price evolution by component Source Electricity: Eurostat. Includes taxes. Source Gas: EC, Metadata Member States. Includes taxes. The relative share of the energy element in the retail price of electricity has generally diminished over time. This is because since 2008 it is the tax/levy component which has seen the greatest increase and energy cost elements have seen the smallest [increase/decrease]. Since 2008 electricity network costs went up by 18.5% for households while taxes and levies rose by 36% for households 13. In the case of retail prices for natural gas, since 2008 the energy component has also stayed stable, while on average for the EU the network component has risen by 17%, and taxation went up by 12-14% for households Market actors and factors The challenge to decarbonise and secure energy supplies, along with the development of ICT, and consumer confidence in such technologies, means more energy products and services, more consumer choice, and greater pressure for energy retailers to compete for customers. For retail markets specifically consumer demand is one of the main drivers for the development of innovation among competing suppliers. Consumer engagement in competitive energy markets is conditioned by transparency, simplicity, affordability and the existence of relevant products 11 Energy prices and costs in Europe, Brussels, , COM (2014) 21 /2, p Ibid, p For households +36.5% for the EU weighted average electricity price, ibid p Ibid, p. 7. 6
7 and services enabling consumers to control their energy costs. Furthermore, consumers expect retail energy markets to be easy to navigate, offer real choice and competitive prices. They need clear and accurate information on their energy consumption as well as easily accessible, understandable, transparent and fully comparable information about each offer so that they can choose the most suitable one for them. Finally, consumers need to be aware of their rights and be protected against unfair commercial practices and unfair contract terms. Despite the legislative framework in place, consumers often find energy markets unclear and nontransparent 15. In addition, consumers have been increasingly interested in electricity produced from renewable energy sources (RES). However, when consumers choose electricity from RES, there is often confusion about what they are actually subscribing to, i.e. whether their choice increases the production of renewable energy, helps to off-set the carbon dioxide produced or contributes to higher investments in environmental projects. If the goal is to encourage consumers to engage with the energy market and be more sustainable, they need to be provided with clear, credible and comparable information so that they can make informed choices. An increasing number of consumers are de facto engaging in individual and/or cooperative activities that extend beyond the mere consumption of energy, towards self-generation, cooperative consumption/production models, using smart metering infrastructure and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to better manage their energy consumption at home. This innovation by consumers is also resulting in innovation for consumers from energy companies. Together with the presence of energy companies that are proposing innovative products, processes and services towards their clients, new market actors are also emerging. Energy Services Companies (ESCOs), aggregators, data handling companies and other commercial entities are becoming increasingly visible offering new and innovative services to consumers. Their presence increases the possibilities for positive outcomes for consumers but also makes the 'value chain' more complex and challenging to govern and regulate. In this transition in the EU s energy system and the retail energy markets, consumer organisations have an important role to play for consumers. Consumer organizations are increasingly intervening in the public debate 16 about aspects of the regulatory framework that have a direct impact on consumers (information, service, etc.). However, their involvement in all aspects of energy regulation entails a number of challenges for them in view of the complexity of many issues and the resources needed. On a practical level, several consumer organisations across Europe provide price comparison tools and organise collective energy switching campaigns with the aim to help consumers get a better energy deal and become more engaged in the energy market. 15 European Energy Regulation: A Bridge to BEUC response to ACER Consultation Paper, at p. 5, Consumer rights in electricity and gas markets BEUC Position paper, at p. 6; 16 Consumer input to the European Commission public consultation on retail energy market, 17 April 2014, 7
8 As customers main interface, suppliers can also provide new products and services, and valuable feedback on customer demands. Furthermore, energy regulators and national consumer agencies together with other competent bodies with a public service mandate, e.g. Public, Independent Energy Ombudsmen in some Member States or other public advisory agencies, are essential guardians both of strong consumer rights and protection, and they ensure that there is competition in energy markets leading to innovation and greater choice of services for customers. All in all, regulators and decision makers should make sure new market actors services are covered by an ADR system, such as an independent energy ombudsman. 8
9 3. Legislation 3.1 European legislation Third Energy Package The Electricity Directive (Dir. 2009/72/EC hereafter ED ) 17 introduces a set of rules and measures applying to energy markets in order to guarantee fair competition and appropriate consumer protection. For instance: - there are references to the role of aggregation (Art. 3.3), where Member States are invited to strengthen the market position of households by promoting the possibilities of voluntary aggregation of representation for that class of consumers.... ; - also Article 3.11 underlines the role of national energy regulatory authorities towards greater energy efficiency through more innovative pricing models: the regulatory authority shall strongly recommend that electricity undertakings optimise the use of electricity, for example by providing energy management services, developing innovative pricing formulas, or introducing intelligent metering systems or smart grids, where appropriate ; - in relation to self-generation, Art. 36 (e) specifies that provisions for new generation capacity need to promote new entrants and electricity from renewables: facilitating access to the network for new generation capacity, in particular removing barriers that could prevent access for new market entrants and of electricity from renewable energy sources. ; - there are also some references in the recitals of the Electricity Directive focusing on incentives for new power generation and measures for increasing energy efficiency (recital 6) as well as on the facilitation of customers and aggregators in reserve and balancing markets (recital 35). Energy Efficiency The Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU hereafter EED) has extensive references on the necessary measures to support energy efficiency in the EU. Specifically: - Member States are asked to assess by June 2015 the potential of their infrastructure to support energy efficiency measures (art. 15.2). This includes transmission, distribution, load management and interoperability, but also connection to energy generating installations, including access possibilities for micro energy generators
10 - National energy regulatory authorities are asked to encourage demand side resources, such as demand response, to participate alongside supply in wholesale and retail markets (art. 15.8). - In what concerns information towards household consumers on available energy efficiency mechanisms and financial and legal frameworks, art. 17 asks for Member States to ensure wide dissemination and to establish appropriate conditions for market operators to provide adequate and targeted information and advice to energy consumers on energy efficiency. - In doing so, Member States should work together with all parties concerned to promote suitable information, awareness-raising and training initiatives to inform citizens of the benefits and practicalities of taking energy efficiency improvement measures.. - The role of the Commission is specified as the facilitator of best practice exchanges and information dissemination in the EU (art. 17 (5)). - Art. 19 (1) stipulates that Member States shall evaluate and if necessary take appropriate measures to remove regulatory and non-regulatory barriers to energy efficiency. - In recital 40, Member States are asked to take into consideration the nature of many cogeneration, district heating and cooling producers when designing administrative procedures for obtaining permission to construct cogeneration capacity or associated networks by applying the Think Small First approach. - Recital 44 underlines the importance of demand response, specifying that it significantly increases the opportunities for consumers or third parties nominated by them to take action on consumption and billing information, which also reduces costs and shifts demand resulting in energy savings in both final consumption and, through the more optimal use of networks and generation assets, in energy generation, transmission and distribution Consumer rights 18 Besides the general consumer law applying to the energy sector 19, a specific set of rights for energy consumers were introduced in the 3 rd Energy Package: 18 See European energy consumers rights - What you gain as an energy consumer from European legislation 10
11 - Access to a connection: a universal service obligation is defined for electricity so consumers have the right to be supplied with electricity of a specified quality within their territory at reasonable, easily and clearly comparable, transparent and non-discriminatory prices (Art 3.3 ED). However, such an obligation is not defined for gas 20 ; - A choice of supplier: consumers can choose their supplier and enter into contract with any EU electricity and/or gas supplier offering services to them. However, [regardless of the member state in which the supplier is registered, as long as the suppliers follows the applicable trading and balancing rules] [this applies only within the relevant geographic retail markets for energy which are often local markets with less competition (Art. 3.4 ED)]. - An easy and fast switch of supplier: consumers can change their electricity and/or gas supplier in an easy and quick way (within 3 weeks), [without extra charges/while respecting contractual conditions] (Art. 3.5 ED). - Clear contract information and right of withdrawal: consumers receive clear information on their energy contract before signing, and an advance notice if any changes are made to the contract, with the possibility to end the contract if they do not accept the new conditions (Art.?? ED). They also have the right to withdraw from a new contract within fourteen days if the contract was concluded outside the supplier's business premises or by distance means of communication (such as Internet or telephone) (Art.?? CRD). - Accurate information on consumption and billing based on it: consumers have access to accurate information on their consumption of electricity and/or gas in order to regulate their energy consumption, and be billed based on actual consumption (Art.?? EED). - Information on how to use energy more efficiently and on the benefits of using energy from renewable sources: consumers are properly informed on the benefits of using equipment and vehicles using renewable energy and also properly informed on how much energy they use and how to use energy more efficiently. - [Specific consumer protection measures for 'vulnerable' customers: they receive adequate safeguards, if they are defined as a 'vulnerable customer' by relevant national rules/member States shall take appropriate measures to protect final customers, and shall, in particular, ensure that there are adequate safeguards to protect vulnerable customers. In this context, each Member State shall define the concept of vulnerable customers which 19 Protecting consumers against unfair commercial practices ( and contract terms ( 20 Consumer Rights in Electricity and Gas Markets, BEUC Position Paper, December 2013, at p
12 may refer to energy poverty and, inter alia, to the prohibition of disconnection of electricity to such customers in critical times (..) (Art. 3.7 ED]. - Easy resolution of complaints and disputes: consumers can file a complaint to their gas or electricity supplier and, in the event their complaint is not managed to their satisfaction, they can send it to an independent body for an inexpensive, prompt and fair out-of-court settlement. This mission is entrusted to energy ombudsmen and ADR providers who help consumers have their voices heard in situations where it could easily be drowned out by large energy companies. - An energy performance certificate for their home: receive information about the energy efficiency of the property they wish to buy or rent. - A national contact point for energy: consumers can contact a single point in their country where they can find more information on these rights. 3.3 [Implementation and enforcement] Consumer rights protect consumers to the extent that they are properly implemented and strictly enforced. Several organisations, including consumer associations, regulatory bodies and ombudsmen have pointed to the existing gaps in both implementation and enforcement. Specifically: - In a position paper 21 issued in January 2015, NEON, the National Energy Ombudsmen Network, states that the EU internal market for energy was supposed to be complete by the end of 2014 but there is still much to do on common market rules. In particular, NEON suggests that the EU considers a common legal framework to protect end consumers with minimum standards for prices and price comparison tools, sales, switches, moving, contractual terms, unified communications, information on real-time consumption with smart meters, easily understandable bills, and complaint procedures. - In their Joint Statement 22 updated in June 2014, CEER, the Council of European Energy Regulators, and BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation, state that protection and empowerment is one of the four principles of their common vision for the energy markets of the future together with reliability, affordability and simplicity. According to CEER and BEUC, it is essential to protect consumers against unfair commercial practices and unsatisfactory outcomes and empower them to exercise their rights based on trust in and knowledge of how the energy sector operates
13 - In a Position Paper 23 on Consumer Rights in Electricity and Gas Markets, issued in December 2013, BEUC states that even after the adoption of several EU legislative packages, European consumers have often difficulties to effectively exercise their rights and therefore essential characteristics of a well-functioning retail energy market are still missing. BEUC recommends specifically that consumers should also be protected against misleading and aggressive marketing practices, in particular in off-premises contracts and that effective enforcement of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and the Consumer Rights Directive is urgently needed.]
14 4. Forms of active energy usership and citizenship This chapter presents some of the practices and views submitted by Working Group members and invited speakers that serve as good examples of recent developments in the ways households can participate actively in the energy market by modulating their consumption in response to price signals, generating energy to cover their energy needs or sell to other users over the grid, improving the efficiency of buildings, heating systems and appliances, and organizing themselves in energy communities to act as groups in buying or selling energy products and services both directly and through intermediaries. 4.1 Demand side response (DSR) Changes in consumption patterns occur, among others, when households moderate their consumption during times of peak demand by reducing their individual usage, or when, to the degree they are able to do so, shift some specific consumption to hours of more moderate demand. Other DSR choices involve micro-generation 24 for own consumption or for sale of energy back to the grid. Apart from the cost of the tariff-based 25 or incentive-based 26 DSR schemes on offer, multiple other factors condition the ability of households to participate actively in DSR markets. These relate mainly to the cost of installation and maintenance of any necessary equipment, the availability and ease of use of smart energy metering and energy management technologies in the household, the level of expertise of the household members in using these technologies, the ratio of available generation capacity of the household to the total household requirements and, finally, the degree of flexibility of both the energy sources for the micro-generation as well as of the specific consumption needs these sources are designed to cover. [However, both DSR and energy efficiency build on a clear connection between retail prices and supply. Since, taxes and levies count for almost a third of the bill (as stated in chap 2.2) and are not linked to the supply of energy, the part that customers are able to influence becomes small and often not enough to incentivize customers to act according to DSR price signals] Demand-side flexibility (DSF) Traditionally, the flexibility to maintain the balance between electric power supply and demand has mostly been provided by the generation side. Furthermore, efforts to de-carbonise electricity systems require a generation mix that is increasingly based on variable RES 27. In this scenario, demand response is expected to contribute in guaranteeing and enhancing 24 See Micro-generation on page Tariff-based DSR schemes focus on the adaptation of tariffs to influence the consumption behaviour by means of applying different tariff zones during the day; see Smart Grids Fundamentals and Technologies in Electricity Networks, Bernd M. Buchholz, Zbigniew Styczynski, Springer 2014, at p Incentive-based DSR includes capacity and ancillary services programs destined to large scale consumers (industry) but also direct load control schemes that can be applied to households, ibid. 27 For a discussion of the firmness of RES that is the degree to which output can change and be controlled by generators and/or system operators see Eurelectric Flexible Generation: Backing Up Renewables, October 2011, at p. 13; see also Reliable Electricity Grid Operation Possible in Future with 100% Renewable Energy, Press Release, October 2013, at kt13.pdf. 14
15 network security, reducing the need for investment, increasing competition in the market and ultimately benefiting consumers. The Council of European Energy Regulators has analysed demand-side flexibility 28 (DSF) which can be defined as the ability to change electricity usage by end-use customers from their normal or current consumption patterns in response to market signals. Demand response is being considered as an important tool to balance the future electricity grid so it is essential that consumers understand the implications of DSR schemes for their energy consumption and financial outlook. Home automation can facilitate demand response but it requires smart appliances and technology to be installed in the household and for those households to be confident that such systems are safe. Questions of affordability, cost/benefit ratio and depreciation are relevant for consumers. At the same time not every household is able or willing to shift its energy consumption to off-peak hours. Even when consumers are able to shift their consumption, they may not understand how to do so. As highlighted in previous Working Group reports, the development of demand-side flexibility schemes [needs to go hand-in-hand with the development of user-friendly technology and interoperable appliances and smart devices/user-friendly technology, interoperable appliances and smart devices are best developed in efficient and fully functional competitive markets]. Specifically, this concerns domestic appliances and other domestic systems (e.g. heating) ensuring, for instance, that they may be switched on/off remotely without this resulting in any technical problems. When developing new flexibility services for different types of customers, a careful assessment of costs and benefits related to different market design options should be undertaken so that the benefits are shared appropriately and no one is adversely affected. It will be necessary to put in place additional protections for vulnerable customers Micro-generation Micro-generation or self-generation (the two terms are used interchangeably in this report) occurs when a household uses a locally installed RES to produce energy. These households are also known as prosumers (energy producing consumers) and, even if their main purpose is to cover their own energy needs, they can also sell it to the grid. [Where the legal framework allows for micro-generation, consumers can sell their electricity surplus on the market for a price that is either based on competition in the market or set by the competent regulator/micro-generation based on RES is mostly supported by net metering and/or feed in tariffs. In both cases the electricity is not really sold to the market/ However, it is worth noting that most regulatory schemes currently in place mandate either suppliers or distributors to offtake the surplus energy self-generated]. A fundamental policy question that arises in the scenario of more wide-spread adoption of self-generation by households 30 centres around its effects on retail prices and the sharing of grid costs between such prosumers and the average households that do not participate in self- 28 See CEER Advice on Ensuring Market and Regulatory Arrangements help deliver Demand Side Flexibility, June 2014, at 29 Also see the Report of the Working Group on E-Billing and Personal Energy Data Management at 30 See Ruggero Schleicher-Tappeser, How renewables will change electricity markets in the next five years, in Energy Policy, Vol. 48, Elsevier, September 2012, Pages
16 generation but still have to support the costs of that grid that will be spread among a smaller number of paying customers. Other issues increasingly relevant under this scenario involve its impact on investment for programmable load and backup capacity projects, and hence on security of supply, on balance and frequency management and on the national grid. From the point of view of consumers, questions of market access and simplicity of the process are relevant. [A guaranteed priority of access to the grid on the basis of a reliable and clear framework exempt of complicated negotiations with retailers or traders preceding the purchase of surplus electricity from self-generation should encourage households to consider investing in their own generation capacity. Such a framework could be based initially on feedin tariffs and, at a later stage, on market price setting mechanisms, as conditions of free competition replace regulated prices and subsidies are pulled back./the electricity should always be sold to a market party at market price. If a subsidy is necessary it can be paid as top up on the market price in form of a feed-in premium. However in principle subsidies should be phased-out and development of micro-gen should be driven by grid parity. Otherwise system costs will increase for everyone] An example from Finland Among the possibilities for such a framework is the one presented to the Working Group by the association of Finnish Industries. An interesting aspect of this framework is that it allows for the development of energy retail products where the energy retailer works as an intermediary between two customers handling the balance responsibility, billing and other practicalities, thus making it possible for one end user customer to sell electricity to another end user (the prosumer sets the price, not the energy retailer) 31. For such products aspects linked to the transparency of information and the dispute resolution mechanism are important. This basic example from Finland could be useful for drafting purchasing contracts for smallscale generation. Structure of the contract: When agreeing on the purchase of small-scale production there are two options for the structure of the contract terms: - two separate contracts: one for the sale of electricity taken from the grid and the other for the sale of electricity supplied to the grid, or - a single contract covering both the sale of electricity by the retailer (called the seller ) to the prosumer (called the consumer or user ) as well as the purchase of electricity by the retailer (called the buyer ) back from the prosumer in question (called the small- 31 The product is called Farmivirta, link: Several suppliers sell panels to their customers and also buy the surplus. 16
17 scale producer ). Billing method: There are three options: - The purchase and selling of electricity can be settled in the same invoice sent by the energy retailer; - They purchase and selling of electricity can be invoiced in two separate invoices (the bill of sale by the energy retailer and a self-billing invoice by the small-scale producer); - In the case of larger small-scale production, billing consists of an invoice sent by the small-scale producer according to the measurement data reported by the buyer of electricity to the small-scale producer. For the billing purposes, the buyer of electricity delivers to the small-scale producer, in agreed intervals, a report regarding the electricity supplied to the network, and in accordance to this report, the small-scale producer drafts an invoice to the buyer of electricity. Price The tariff for the electricity sold by the small-scale producer is set independently between buyer and prosumer. Agreeing on the balancing service 32 In cases of buying electricity from production plants below 1 MVA, it is worthwhile to mention in the contract that the buyer is responsible for balance responsibility and notifications on behalf of the small-scale producer. For production plants of over 1 MVA balancing services must be agreed separately between the small-scale producer and the buyer. Handling the origin of electricity The origin of the electricity is in principle always the property of the producer. With bigger production plants of at least 1 MVA, the producer owns the origin of the electricity, but the buyer can offer to provide as a service the obtaining of guarantees of origin and, if the parties reach an agreement, also buy the guarantees of origin. With plants of less than 1MVA usually it is not profitable to have guarantees of origin. Taxation of small-scale production 32 Balancing refers to the situation after markets have closed (gate closure) in which a TSO acts to ensure that demand is equal to supply, in and near real time; on balancing and ancillary services see for instance ENTSO-E at 17
18 - VAT: When a client is buying electricity from a retailer, value added tax is added to the price. However, when a small-scale provider is selling surplus electricity to a retailer, the sale is tax free, unless the small-scale provider is liable to pay value added tax. - Electricity tax: It is exempted if the production plant is less than 50kVA. Specific terms in the purchase contract 33 Main issues to be noted when drafting a contract of purchase or the individual terms regarding purchase include (but are not limited to): 1. Particulars/Details of the Contracting Parties, including those of the production plant(s) (At the very least the type of production and the nominal output ought to be written down regarding the plant in question); 2. The small-scale producer s obligation to notify on changes in the details; 3. The purpose of the contract; 4. The entry into force of the contract and the beginning of its application; 5. Technical requirements: a small-scale producer is responsible for meeting the technical requirements before and during the purchase; 6. Liabilities; 7. Price; 8. Billing/billing period/billing details; 9. Handling the origin of electricity: in principle, certifying the origin of the electricity with a guarantee of origin is the responsibility of the small-scale provider; 10. The balance responsibility and the balance settlement liabilities; 11. Determining the amount of electricity provided to the distribution network; 12. The requirement of existing electricity sale and network contracts; 13. Remark on the inapplicability of the general terms of the sale of electricity to the purchase of electricity; 14. Changes in the contractual terms, prices and service charges; 15. Termination of the contract (e.g. the length of the term of notice to be applied to both parties); 16. Transfer of the contract; 17. Dispute resolution; Network service and connection contract When a small-scale production plant is entitled to supply electricity to the general distribution network, the client needs to have an existing network service contract in force covering the network service of the production. 33 See more details at 18
19 Notification of the purchase contract to the network operator The retailer has to notify the network operator of the beginning of the purchase contract via . Thereafter the network will begin delivering separate metering data regarding the taking and supplying of electricity from and to the network. 4.2 Involving consumers in energy efficiency choices Consumers are concerned by energy efficiency questions in multiple areas: the overall energy performance of their house and how they can improve it, the different options for appliances, lighting, heating and cooling that can lower the cost of their bill, the best ways to participate in local energy efficiency programs. The Working Group discussed the complexity surrounding the different ways of organizing consumer involvement on the basis of a functional approach: - Taking Control: the consumer journey (trigger, advice, decision-making/choice, installation, payment, benefit, complaints and redress); - Objectives (use less, waste less, pay less) or - Measures. The socio-economic factors that affect a consumers ability to get involved along one or several such functional approaches, means consumer engagement is more challenging than a review of successful programmes may suggest. One of the main questions that must be considered at policy level when designing an overall program to steer consumers towards more energy efficient choices in the use of prices. Increasing prices, for instance, in order to decrease energy consumption ( use less approaches) could have a disproportionate financial and social impact on the most vulnerable consumers and increase energy poverty. In some Member States programs based on such price disincentives are accompanied by offsets in terms of tax reductions and subsidies for the more vulnerable users An example from the UK: repowering London Cooperatives Europe provided an example where cooperative consumers are involved in the promotion and installation of energy efficient solutions. Repowering London is a cooperative that works on the production of community-owned renewable energy and on an energy efficiency fund. The cooperative helps to set up cooperative projects for inner-city solar power stations (Brixton Energy Solar 1, 2 and 3). Part of the profits of the solar projects is returned in a Community Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF). This fund helps improving energy efficiency and energy savings in social housing where energy poverty is a real issue. 34 In France, in order to decrease consumption, there is a tax reduction for energy efficiency renovation. Furthermore, specific subsidies exist for the most vulnerable consumers (objective of renovations per year). 19
20 From every project 20% of the total net profits are set-aside for the Community Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF). The CEEF is used for promotion and installation of relatively low cost energy efficiency measures including individual home energy audits, energy survey, energy advice sessions and community events. Cooperative members help their neighbours to implement simple changes. This starts with getting a better insight in the own home performance (with an audit), and simple cost saving opportunities such as switching to another cheaper supplier (best prices), draught proofing, and changing the lighting An example from Sweden The Working Group invited the Swedish Energy Efficiency Agency to present initiatives involving individual consumers in energy efficiency. The Swedish national market for electricity, gas and district heating was deregulated in 1996, and since then the Swedish Energy Market Inspectorate (i.e. the country s energy regulator) is responsible for monitoring the functioning of the markets. Since the deregulation of energy markets in Sweden, average household electricity prices have increased by around 50%, mainly due to higher taxes since year This has pushed households to consider more energy efficient options and has contributed to lowering the residential/household energy use (20% lower than 15 years ago). On average, therefore, household energy expenditure has been stable, in the order of 8% of household expenditure. Beyond the use of taxation, the main long term policies that have contributed to energy efficiency in Sweden are: - The establishment of energy and climate advisors supporting energy efficiency among households. Since 1997, advisors have been instituted in every of the 290 municipalities of Sweden. The energy-and climate advisors serve as an information support to households that wish to learn more, and take action on changing their energy use. They are financed by the government of Sweden. An advantage of using this type of advisors is that they have a local and regional knowledge and that it is possible for consumers to get in touch with them by phone and even get an appointment locally. In parallel to this initiative, Sweden has invested in improved information dissemination on energy efficiency since Experience on energy efficiency in Sweden shows that collaboration between the national, regional, and local level is crucial, and that well-functioning institutions as well as financing mechanisms need to be in place. As a result of this scheme, among the households (more than ) and the SMEs (approximately 3000) that have benefitted from advice, the average energy saving was 2 MWh for households, and MWh for SMEs. Another long-term aspect of such schemes is that as awareness among consumers increases, it generates demand for new services and products that are more energy efficient. - The district heating network in Sweden makes it easy for consumers to receive heating from low-carbon sources. As a source of fuel, oil has kept decreasing while the heat pumps of various kinds have been increasing. In establishing this network, the role of municipalities and municipally owned energy companies was very relevant. [District heating facilitates access of consumers to low-carbon heating/municipal regulation played a decisive role for the uptake of DH in Sweden through the obligation for consumers to connect to the DH network if this was available in their area.] and contributes to reducing the GHG 20