Energy markets generally fail to satisfy consumer expectations. The EU’s 3 energy packages and other horizontal consumer laws have defined a number of important rights on, for instance, when consumers want to switch their provider or what kind of information consumers should be given. However, exercising these rights is often quite laborious.

Our new position paper on consumer rights in electricity and gas markets takes stock of the current situation of retail energy markets and it identifies gaps which the legislators need to address. We ask, for example, for offers on energy deals to be made easily accessible, understandable and comparable with other offers on the market. Also, only in a very limited number of cases should companies be able to change the terms and conditions of a contract.