14/10/2015 – EAPN and EPSU sent a joint letter to the cabinet of the Energy Union Commissioner and Vice President, Maroš Šefčovič as a follow up to a dialogue meeting held on the 11 September. The meeting and letter highlighted EAPN and EPSU’s joint concerns about growing Energy Poverty, with an estimated 54 million (10.8%) of EU citizens affected by energy poverty in 2012 (See Insight-E study). Yet despite this failure, only 12% of the most vulnerable consumers are put on the lowest energy tariffs.
The letter asks for concrete commitments not to abandon regulation of pricing, and to prioritize investments proposed in the Investment Package in energy efficient initiatives for housing which benefit low income households. The letter also calls for progress on an EU definition, and monitoring and development of national action plans in line with the Energy Package, with specific support for vulnerable and low income customers and protection against cut-offs, as well as explicit role for the regulators to protect their interests. It calls for the setting up of an advisory committee to the regulators involving trade unions and civil society.
