36 Amendments of Henna VIRKKUNEN related to 2015/2323(INI)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that the ongoing energy transition is resulting in a move away from a centralised, inflexible, fossil fuel-based energy systemless flexible energy system based on centralized generation, to one which is more decentraliszed, and flexible andwith an increased share of renewables- based energy;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point a
Paragraph 3 – point a
a. provide citizens with stable, affordable, sustainable, fair and transparent energy, energy-efficient products and housingefficient, and sustainably produced energy;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point c
Paragraph 3 – point c
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point c
Paragraph 3 – point c
c. contribute to eradicateing the causes of energy poverty;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point d
Paragraph 3 – point d
d. protect consumers from abusive, uncompetitive and unfair practices by suppliers and enable them to fully exercise their rights;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
da. create the right conditions to boost competition and access to information in energy markets;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that, as a general principle, the energy transition should result in a more decentralised and democraticbalanced energy system which benefits society as a whole, increases the involvement of citizens and local communities, and empowers them to own or share in the ownership of the production, distribution and storage of energy, while at the same time protecting the most vulnerable;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that, as a general principle, the energy transition should result in a more decentralised and democratic energy system which benefits society as a whole, increases the involvement of citizens and local communities, and empowers them to own or share in the ownership of the production, distribution and storage of energy, while at the same time protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring the stability of the networks;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the aim of the Third Energy Package to provide a truly competitive and consumer-friendly retail energy market has not yet been realised, as evidenced by low levels of consumer switching and satisfaction across the EUin several Member States, persistent high levels of market concentration, and the failure to reflect falling wholesale costs in retail prices;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – introductory part
Paragraph 6 – introductory part
6. Calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to rigorously ensure full implementation of the Third Energy Package, and calls for its revia new Energy Market Desiogn to take account of the following recommendations:
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point a
Paragraph 6 – point a
a. Recommends improving the transparency and clarity of bills, which should include information on the final price, with an explanation of the different taxes, levies and tariffs, together with information on the different energy sources and complaint handling, clear indication of contact points, and information on switching and energy efficiency measures; insists that clear language must be used, with technical terms either avoided or clearly explained; requests the Commission to identify minimum standards and requests the Commission to identify minimum information requirements to ensure simplicity and interpretability in this respect;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point b
Paragraph 6 – point b
Amendment 164 #
d. Recommends that there should be a limited range of standardised tariffs,Considers that information relating to different tariffs must be transparent, clear and accessible in order to facilitate price comparison between different suppliers and tariffs and avoid a confusing array of different tariffs for the same productand maintain retail competition between suppliers;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point e
Paragraph 6 – point e
e. Recommends that consideration be given to requiring energy suppliers to automatically place customumers be empowered to easily access information relating to their consumption patterns, along with recommendations from the suppliers on the most suitable and advantageous tariff, based on historic consumption patterns available to them; notes, given that switching rates are low throughout Europe, that many households, especially the most vulnerable, are not engaged in the energy market and are stuck on outdated expensivnot on the most appropriate tariffs;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point f
Paragraph 6 – point f
f. Recommends measures to enable retail prices to better reflect wholesale prices and thus reverse the trend of an increasing proportion of fixed elements in energy bills, in particular network charges, taxes and levies, which are often regressive elements; recommends that such elements be applied progressively or, where, possible funded from alternative sources;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for the creation of new platforms to serve as independent Price Comparison Tools (PCTs) to provide greater clarity to consumers on billing; recommends that such independent platforms should provide consumers with information on the different taxes, levies and add-ons contained in energy tariffs in a comparable way to empower the consumer to easily seek more suitable offers; suggests that this role could be assumed by existing bodies such as national energy departments, regulators etc., or by specifically created entities;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Considers that the maximum benefit for consumers will be achieved through the optimisation of the energy system as a whole; asks therefore that careful analyses be undertaken in the market design process to ensure that delivering new benefits to specific consumer groups does not bring negative impacts to energy consumers in general;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Insists that the provisions on switching, as set out in the Third Energy Package, should be fully implemented by Member States, and that national legislation must guarantee consumers the right to change suppliers in a quick, easy and cost-free way, with no termination fees or penalties unless otherwise agreed in a contract between the customer and the supplier;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that collective switching schemes and campaigns should be promoted in order to help consumers find a better deal; emphasises that such schemes must be independent, trustworthy, comprehensive and inclusive, reaching those who are less engaged; suggests that local authorities, regulators and consumer organisations and other not-for-profit organisations are well placed to fulfil this role, and that support from European funds for such activities should be considered;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that local authorities, communities and individuals should form the backbone ofcan contribute substantially to the energy transition and should be actively supported to help them become energy producers and suppliers on an equal footing with other players;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that access to capital, high upfront investment costs and long repayment periods represent barriers to the take-up of self-generation and energy efficiency measures; calls, therefore, for the development of new business models and innovative financial instruments to incentivise self-generation, consumption and energy efficiency for all consumers; suggests that this should become a priorityn important objective for the EIB, EFSI and the Structural Funds;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for stable and sufficient remuneration schemes to guarantee investor certainty and increase the take-up of small-scale renewable energyrenewable energy deployment, while at the same time ensuring the market is not distorted; believes that grid tariffs and other fees should be non-discriminatory and should fairly reflect the impact of the consumer on the grid, while guaranteeing sufficient funding for the maintenance and development of distribution grids; regrets the recent abrupt changes to support schemes in certain Member States, as well as the introduction of unfair and punitive taxes or fees which are detrimental tohinder the continued expansion of self-generation;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for stable and sufficient remuneration schemesthe Commission to guarantee investor certainty and increase the take-up of small-scale renewable energy; believes that grid tariffs and other fees should be non-discriminatory and should fairly reflect the impact of the consumer on the grid, while guaranteeing sufficient funding for the maintenance and development of distribution grids; regrets the recent abrupt changes to support schemes in certain Member States, as well as the introduction of unfair and punitive taxes or fees which are detrimental to the continued expansion of self-generation;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Believes that consumers should have easy and timely access to their consumption data in both volume and monetary terms, to help them make informed decisions; believes that where smart meters are rolled out there should be a solid legal framework to ensure an end to unjustified back-billing and a rollout that is efficient and affordable for all consumers and is free of charge forincluding energy-poor consumers; insists that efficiency savings from smart meters should be shared on a fair basis between grid operators and users;
Amendment 346 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises that the development of smart technologies must not leave the most vulnerable or less engaged consumers behind, nor see bills rise;
Amendment 355 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Highlights the need to develop smart grids and appliances which automate the management of energy demand in response to price signals;
Amendment 362 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that the processing and storage of citizens’ energy-related data should be managed by neutral entities and should comply with the existing EU legislation, which lays down that the ownership of all data lies with the citizendata subject will remain in control of their personal data and that data should only be provided to third parties by explicit consent; considers that, in addition, citizens should be able to exercise their rights to correct and erase informationpersonal data;
Amendment 369 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that the processing and storage of citizens’ energy-related data should be managed by neutral entities and should comply with the existing EU legislation, which lays down that the ownership of all data lies with the citizen and that data should only be provided to third parties by explicit consent; considers that, in addition, citizens should be able to exercise their rights to correct and erase information, unless data is such that can be needed later;
Amendment 381 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for the development of a strong EU framework to fight energy poverty, including a broad, common but non- quantitative definition of energy poverty, focusing on the idea that access to affordable energy is a basic social rightcoordination at EU level to fight energy poverty through the sharing of best practices between Member States; urges the Commission to prioritise measures to alleviate energy poverty in upcoming legislative proposals and to present a dedicated action plan by mid- 2017;
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Considers that the Energy Union governance framework should include objectives and reporting from Member States for energy poverty, and that key indicators for energy poverty should be developed;
Amendment 412 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Considers that energy efficiency measures are central to any strategy to address energy poverty and are much cheaper in the long run than tackling the issue exclusively throughcomplementary to social security policies; calls for action to ensure that energy- efficient renovation of existing buildings gives priority toalso targets energy-poor citizens in the context of the review of the EPBD; suggests that an objective of reducing the number of energy- inefficient homes by 2030 should be considered, with a focus on rental properties and social housing;
Amendment 421 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 430 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls for EU funds for energy efficiency and support for self-generation to target energy-poor, low-income consumers and address the issue of split incentives between tenants and owners;
Amendment 434 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls for EU funds for energy efficiency and support for self-generation to also target energy-poor, low-income consumers and address the issue of split incentives between tenants and owners;
Amendment 447 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Believes that well-targeted social tariffs are vital for low-income, vulnerable citizens, and should therefore be promoted; considers that any such social tariffs should be fully transparent;