The future of electricity in Europe
“The European Union has a choice between deciding for a fully competitive model or a return to the public service model”, argued Steve Thomas, PSIRU, in his contribution to the conference. “But I fear the result will be neither and we end up with a messy oligopoly.” Steve Thomas presented his critical analysis of the current situation of the internal market for electricity during a conference on 27 June 2005, in Brussels. His paper was debated by a panel composed of representatives of the European Commission, Eurelectric, European Transmission System Operators, the European organization for social housing and those without a home, Italian municipal utilities. EPSU was represented by the Deputy General Secretary. He addressed the employment consequences of the internal market (300.000 job losses), worsening of pay and conditions, increase in outsourcing, and problems with skills possibly endangering security of supply. The Conference was organized by CELSIG, the European liaison committee for services of general interest, a NGO based in France.
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