89/364/EEC: Council Decision of 5 June 1989 on a Community action programme for improving the efficiency of electricity use

COUNCIL  DECISION
of 5 June 1989
on a Community action programme for improving the efficiency of electricity use
(89/364/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas, in its resolution of 15 January 1985 on the improvement of energy-saving programmes in Member States (4), the Council invited Member States to pursue and where necessary increase their efforts to promote the more rational use of energy by the further development of integrated energy-saving policies;
Whereas, in its resolution of 16 September 1986 (5) concerning new Community energy policy objectives for 1995 and convergence of the policies of the Member States, the Council called for a vigorous policy of energy saving;
Whereas electricity production contributes by more than 35 % to the coverage of the Community's total primary energy consumption and whereas electricity consumption accounts for over 17 % of the Community's total final energy consumption;
Whereas improvements in the efficiency of electricity use would bring benefits in terms of lower primary energy consumption, reduced investment in electricity production capacity, reduced emission levels and lower electricity costs to consumers;
Whereas there is significant potential for improving the efficiency of electricity use and whereas specific action is required to exploit this potential;
Whereas an immediate consequence of saving energy is the saving of non-renewable raw materials and a reduction in the pollution of the environment, and whereas this is therefore consistent with the objectives laid down by Article 130r (1) of the Treaty;
Whereas, to achieve improvements in the efficiency of electricity use, electricity consumers should be encouraged to use the most efficient electrical appliances and equipment and whereas the efficiency of such appliances and equipment and of electrically-based processes should be further improved;
Whereas a Community action programme should be instituted to achieve these objectives, and whereas the Treaty does not provide for the action concerned, powers other than those of Article 235;
Whereas such a Community action programme would be complementary to other actions in the general field of energy saving;
Whereas the Community action programme would involve not only the Commission and Member State Governments but also other parties in the electricity sector notably the electricity consumers' organizations, and professional institutions,