32 Amendments of Theresa GRIFFIN related to 2015/2323(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Believes that the Energy Union should have the interests of citizens at its core;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Underlines that the objective of the report is to provide a new deal for energy households consumers in the context of the energy transition;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is concerned that the liberalisation and integration of the retail energy markets is still not complete, resulting in insufficient competition and choice of suppliers;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Considers that the aim of the Third Energy Package to provide a truly competitive and consumer-friendly retail market has not been realised, as evidenced by low levels of consumer switching and satisfaction across the EU, persistent high levels of market concentration, and the failure to reflect falling wholesale costs in retail prices;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for further measures to make switching between providers easier and faster and in a cost-free way with no penalties or contract termination fees, including a shortened switching period and effective data portability, in order to prevent the lock-in of consumers;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point a
Paragraph 3 – point a
a. provide citizens with stable, affordable, sustainable, fair and transparent energy, and energy-efficient products and housing that use clean energy sources, which must be given priority;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the importance of access to real time or near real time information on energy consumption and related costs; calls therefore for the rapid deployment of ICT, e.g. mobile applications, online platforms, data hubs and smart meters within a clear framework on data protection, security, and access to data for all market participants, thereby ensuring that consumers retain control over their data; emphasises that the development of smart technologies must not leave the most vulnerable or less engaged consumers behind, nor see bills rise;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to take further action to improve the frequency of energy bills and their clarity and transparency as regards types of energy sources, consumption and price structure; calls for EU guidelines on price comparison tools, e.g. on transparency and reliability, and for access for all consumers to at least one price comparison tool for energy servicesindependent, up-to-date and understandable price comparison tool for energy services; recommends that consideration be given to requiring energy bills to include comparisons of offers in order to enable all consumers, even those with no internet access or skills, to see whether they could save money by switching; believes that peer-based comparisons should also be included in bills to help reduce energy use;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recommends that consideration be given to requiring energy suppliers to automatically place customers on the most advantageous tariff, based on historic consumption patterns; 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 expensive tariffs;
Amendment 56 #
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 and to assess the market situation and the opportunities on offer;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. 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 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that a key objective of the review of the electricity market design should be to give consumers more choices and better control over their participation in a fully functioning and efficient energy market; calls for simple market access and electricity balancing responsibility for prosumers, fair distribution of costs and benefits, and a high level of consumer protection;
Amendment 69 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Insists that the provisions of the directives on unfair commercial practices and consumer rights relating to doorstep selling, unfair terms or practices and aggressive marketing techniques be properly implemented and enforced by Member States so as to protect energy consumers;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that, as a general principle, the energy transition should result in a more efficient, 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 sustainable energy, while at the same time protecting the most vulnerable;
Amendment 125 #
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, levinetwork charges, taxes and tarifflevies, 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 in this respect;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point b
Paragraph 6 – point b
b. Recommends that consideration be given to requiring energy bills to include comparisons of offers in order to enable all consumers, even those without internet access or skills, to see whether they could save money or obtain more sustainable energy by switching; believes that peer- based comparisons should also be included in bills to help reduce energy use;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point c
Paragraph 6 – point c
c. Recommends developing rules for price comparison tools to ensure that consumers can access independent, up-to-date and understandable comparison tools; believes Member States should develop accreditation schemes covering all price comparison tools, in line with CEER guidelines; calls for the development of at least one impartial price comparison tool per Member State;
Amendment 184 #
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 customers on the most advantageous tariff, while avoiding switching to less sustainable energy sources and based on historic consumption patterns; 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 expensive tariffs;
Amendment 185 #
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 customers on the most advantageous tariff, based on historic consumption patterns; 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 expensive tariffs; highlights the need to develop an inclusive energy market;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point f
Paragraph 6 – point f
f. Recommends measures to enable retail prices to better reflect wholesale prices as well as the energy quantity used, 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 210 #
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; supports ACER's "Bridge to 2025" recommendations on switching;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Insists that the provisions of the directives on unfair commercial practices and consumer rights relating to doorstep selling, unfair terms or practices and aggressive marketing techniques be properly implemented and enforced by Member States so as to protect energy consumers; notes that complaints regarding door-step selling have increased in several countries and calls for a ban of these practices;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Democratising the energy system by helping consumers take ownership of the energy transition, produce their own renewable energy and become energy- efficient
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that local authorities, communities and individuals should form the backbone of the energy transition and should be actively supported to help them become energy producers and suppliers on an equal footing with other players with a dedicated approach to overcome hurdles;
Amendment 279 #
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 such as collective purchasing to incentivise self-generation, consumption and energy efficiency for all consumers; suggests that this should become a priority for the EIB, EFSI and the Structural Funds;
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recommends reducing to an absolute minimum the administrative barriers to new self-generation capacity, and suggests replacing lengthy authorisation procedures with a simple notification requirement, while still respecting all legal requirements; suggests that the revision of the renewable energy directive could include specific provisions to remove barriers and promote community/cooperative energy schemes;
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Recommends systematically promoting on-bill repayment schemes, allowing energy consumers to attain energy savings and sustainable energy projects without having to pay high up- front costs; instead financial institutions or utility companies bear the upfront costs, which are repaid to them periodically by the consumer when the benefits of the investments are reached through lower energy bills, allowing consumers to save energy and money at the same time and helping to reach our climate and energy goals; by linking the on-bill repayment system to the EAN-code instead of the consumer, landlord-tenant problems and transaction costs are circumvented;
Amendment 336 #
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 back-billing and a rollout that is efficient and affordable for consumers and is free of charge for energy-poor consumers; insists that efficiency savingbenefits from smart meters should be shared on a fair basis between grid operators and users;
Amendment 361 #
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 citizenconsumers should always remain in control of their 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 382 #
21. Calls for the development of a strong EU framework building on best national practices to fight energy poverty, including a broad, common but non- quantitative and open definition of energy poverty, focusing on the idea that access to affordable energy is a basic social right; urges the Commission to prioritise measures to alleviate energy poverty in upcoming legislative proposals and to present a dedicated action plan by mid- 2017; calls on the Commission to establish a European Year Against Energy Poverty;
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Stresses the importance of encouraging all synergies in this area – including those that may exist between local authorities and distribution system operators, which are able to provide the most information on levels of energy poverty and detect situations of risk – while fully respecting European and national data protection rules;