Consumer organisations’ input to the European Grid Package call for evidence

Bringing affordable, secure and clean electricity to households is a priority for consumer organisations. BEUC therefore welcomes the possibility to provide input to the European Commission’s work on electricity grids.

In this document, we provide the (household) consumer policy perspective on electricity grids and their development. We highlight the following elements:

• Consumer organisations across Europe highlight diverse experiences when it comes to difficulties with connecting to the grid. Measures such as locally targeted information to consumers, uniform procedures for grid connection requests, coordinated planning, controlling mechanisms, and minimum access quotas for specific schemes have been suggested in different countries.
• Flexible electricity offers need to appeal to different kinds of people with different living situations and risk appetites. BEUC has a list of do’s (and don’ts) for such contracts. We recognise not all consumers will be able adapt their energy consumption, though they would benefit from reduced system costs if others do.
• Investments in electricity grids must always be subject to careful analysis regarding their rationale, necessity, and the impact they will have on the network tariffs paid by all consumers. Network tariffs must be fair, transparent, predictable, cost-reflective, and well-communicated.
• Smart grids are an important part of this topic. Cybersecurity, data protection/privacy, and the use of artificial intelligence should never become the responsibility of the consumer. BEUC calls for a ‘by design and by default’ approach. Digital innovation brings opportunities but also challenges, such as possible barriers to switching – this must be monitored by regulators.