EPSU

EPSU contribution to: ERGEG Public Consultation Paper on Draft Guidelines of Good Practice on Regulatory Aspects of Smart Metering for Electricity and Gas

catherine — 2010-09-02T09:55:52Z

REF: E-10-RMF-23-03 10 June 2010

EPSU welcomes the consultation. EPSU sent comments on the status report on smart meters to ERGEG in January 2010.

We underlined a number of points including the importance of privacy issues, protection of low-income users, employment, certification and verification issues. Many of these points have not been addressed. The Draft Guidelines on Good Practice would therefore benefit by including the below points.


it 8.1 EPSU Contribution to ERGEG consult smartmetering

Submission of EPSU to the Consultation of the Commission on EU's energy strategy 2011-2020

catherine — 2010-06-16T15:05:31Z

EPSU Contribution to

‘Towards a new Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020'

A Social Chapter

(15 June 2010)

Our main point:
Commission strategy lacks urgency to address employment and skills problems in electricity and gas sectors and fails to address the social dimension.

General observations The European Commission published the document to consult with the broader public on its future policies. That is welcome. EPSU has contributed to previous consultations; from our experience it is not clear that these consultations are useful as views not welcome are ignored. Repeatedly EPSU (as well as ETUC) have argued that Europe's energy policy needs a social dimension. This dimension needs to be integrated in the overall strategy. This has been missing. We urge the Commission to develop this. It would be in line with the Reform Treaty and the horizontal social clause so strongly endorsed by the European Commission President, We hope our contribution assists.

A social chapter is even more important as the Commission is preparing energy policy documents that are to sketch Europe's energy mix if the EU is to achieve emission reductions of up to 80% in 2050.This reduction is needed to ensure that global temperatures do not rise with more than 2 degrees. A larger temperature increase could result in so-called climate chaos. This would make it impossible to adapt in a gradual manner to climate change. EPSU welcomes the development of such longer-term planning if it includes a social dimension.

The road to such reductions will undeniably be a balance of energy efficiency, fuel saving and policy measures that result in a fuel mix that is zero or carbon neutral. It is important to recognize that the 80% reductions will have to be realized in the EU itself as other countries implement their policies to reach their targets. A comprehensive global agreement would be the preferred route.

For the full text:


EPSU Contribution

EPSU opinion on the 10 year Network Development Plan of ENTSO-E

Veronique — 2010-04-01T12:24:50Z

(31 March 2010) Key concerns of EPSU are over employment related issues, skills and qualifications and the importance of ensuring that the future development of the networks is based on publicly owned infrastructure. We would like to see certification and verification procedures for those working on the nets. We do not recommend European procedures for authorization and permission that overrule local and national democratic processes.

Other issues addressed are network investment, electromagnetic fields, smart grids and European networks. The position is a follow up to the EPSU network meeting 11 march 2010. The ENTSO-E consultation is available at:

http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=232

See here EPSU Comments


EPSU Comments on ENTSO-E

Final EPSU opinion on ERGEG Public Consultation Paper on Smart Grids

catherine — 2010-03-15T13:36:48Z

ERGEg REF: E09-EQS-30-03, 10 December 2009

(March 2010) The European Regulators Group for Electricity and Gas (ERGEg) launched a public consultation on its position paper on Smart Grids, 17 December 2009. ERGEG requests the views of stakeholders on its position on the regulatory aspects of electricity networks and their future development.

Smart grids imply a “paradigm shift in the way electricity networks will be planned, operated and maintained.”

EPSU welcomes the consultation. The development of smart grids is important for the future of Europe's energy policy. Our members support the development of smart grids whereas we are critical and more skeptical as to the benefits of smart meters for domestic households compared to the costs.

For the full opinion:


Final EPSU smart grids

EPSU contribution to the Regulators Discussion on Smart Meters

epsuadmin — 2010-01-07T16:21:42Z

(7 January 2010) EPSU commented on the Smart Meters 2009 Status Review of the European Regulators Group for Electricity and Gas. Please find it here:


EPSU Comments smart meters

For more information of the work of ERGEG on smart meters: http://www.energy-regulators.eu

Public consultation on market abuse in electricity and gas: EPSU Comments

epsuadmin — 2008-09-10T09:41:41Z

(Brussels, 27 August 2008) The European Commission asked the European Energy Regulators and the Committee of European Security Regulators to comment on market abuse issue in the electricity and gas market. EPSU has submitted a paper with comments.
Some points:
the regulators fail to acknowledge that several of the market failures they note are inherent in liberalised markets
a regime of stricter controls on prices and preferably regulated prices is supported accompanied by serious sanctions
the consultation process needs to be improved

The EPSU paper - Comments on the Consultation Paper:


EPSU comments

Professor of Energy Policy Steve Thomas also contributed a brief paper drawing on the experience of the UK and the recent investigations by the UK parliament into price rises. He draws attention to the inherent risks in markets which give problems for investment (and hence security of supply).
To read his contribution :


paper Steve Thomas

The consultation paper of ERGER is available here

EPSU and European energy consumer rights: a critical approach

epsuadmin — 2007-09-27T13:55:24Z

Just a few days after the opening date of the internal market for electricity and gas, 1 july 2007, the Commission published a proposal for an Energy Consumers' Charter. The Commission recognises that the internal market on electricity and gas does not deliver for consumers and that more protection is needed. EPSU argues that the best protection for users is to re-think the internal market for electricity and gas. Prices for domestic households should remain regulated. To read more...

16 June 2008, EPSU, European Anti-Poverty Network and Social Housing Organisation call on EP to address energy poverty

Position of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) on the Communication Towards a European Charter on the Rights of Energy Consumers:


Consumer Charter

Position of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) on the Communication towards a European Charter of the Rights of Energy Consumers COM(2007) 386, 5 July 2007
Executive summary(in English, French, German, Italian and Swedish)


EPSU contribution summary - EN


EPSU contribution summary - FR


EPSU contribution summary - DE


EPSU contribution summary - IT


EPSU contribution summary - SV

The untested theory of electricity deregulation: Households pay
Lessons from Europe, UK and US
Jan Willem Goudriaan, EPSU:


Prescom newsletter

EPSU contribution to the Communication towards sustainable water management in the European Union

catherine — 2007-05-21T22:00:00Z

EPSU contribution to the Communication towards sustainable water management in the European Union COM(2007) 128, 23 March 2007

adopted by the EPSU Standing Committee on Public Utilities, 20 April 2007 (EN/FR/DE/IT/SV)

www.epsu.org/a/2956

EPSU POSITION on the EU Green Paper: A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy

catherine — 2006-09-01T22:00:00Z

EPSU POSITION

Adopted by the EPSU Standing Committee on Public Utilities, 27 September 2006 and by the EPSU Executive Committee, 20 & 21 November 2006

EU Green Paper: A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy COM (2006) 105 final 8 March 2006

Introduction

The European Commission published a Green Paper, A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy (8 March 2006)

The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Green paper. The consultation has limited value when the Council already expresses itself and endorses key provisions.

Our members understand the importance of security of energy supply and sustainability and the need for clean, carbon-free energy technologies for the whole of the EU economy.

Our members are less convinced by the enthusiasm for a competitive, liberalised EU energy market, experience of which so far shows an adverse effect on employment, as well as on prices and security. EPSU promotes the development of a Europe for Citizens, based on solidarity, equality and sustainable social, economic and environmental development. We support a European Strategy for Security of Energy that encompasses all these elements.

EPSU welcomes the discussion on a European Energy Policy. Member States should consider what additional competencies the EU might need for it to play a role in forums such as G8, IEA (International Energy Agency), OPEC etc. Such a discussion should also define what the competencies of the EU are and what those of the Member States. These are related to deciding on the fuel mix, the organisation of the energy provision and services, and network access issues. A key issue is whether effective democratic control can be exercised allowing citizens to influence decisions.

The complete lack of a social dimension is disappointing. The Strategic Energy Review should include a social dimension establishing trade union and workers' rights, focusing on quality and training. Europe's energy policy should contribute to a safe workplace and enable participation in the development of a strategy for secure and sustainable energy supply.

EPSU is disappointed that the Green Paper fails to recognise the provision of electricity and gas as key public services.

The results of the debate should be widely publicised and where there is deep opposition to proposals in the Green Paper the Commission must be prepared to review its position. One such area that need critical review is the Internal Market for Electricity and Gas. It is not be the corner stone of a coherent policy that puts solidarity, democratic control, equality and sustainable social, economic and environmental development first.

Read the full paper:


EPSU position Green Paper - EN

Update on failing internal market electricity and gas

catherine — 2006-08-18T22:00:00Z

'Understanding European policy on the internal market for electricity and gas - Evaluation of the Electricity and Gas Directives'

EPSU has requested Professor Steve Thomas to continue to monitor the working of the internal market for electricity and gas. This new paper contains analysis of recent papers of the European Commission, description of the headline news mergers and acquisitions, the experience of the author with French EDF and German Eon (active in the UK), the upcoming turmoil on the Norwegian market, prices in the UK and the following damaging conclusion and verdict on Commission Predident Barosso's plans for more competition:

(...)If markets cannot be created, the standard pro-competition measures, such as breaking up dominant companies, forcing liquidity into markets will be counter-productive. Large, stable companies with strong capabilities, long-term strategies and good employment practices will be replaced by much less stable companies with little commitment to the long-term development of the sector. Liquid spot markets will make long-term investment so risky as to impose a substantial risk premium on investment costs, raising overall costs substantially. Liquid spot markets will also tend to generate a large amount of price volatility because prices will tend to collapse if there is a surplus and sky-rocket if there is a shortage. This will make life intolerable for consumers, especially electric-intensive industry and poor residential consumers, both of whom rely on predictable, affordable prices to survive. (...)

Understanding European policy on the internal market for electricity and gas, Evaluation of the Electricity and Gas Directives by Professor Steve Thomas, Public Services International, Research Institute University of Greenwich, September 2006


EN European policy