Activities of Kaja KALLAS related to 2015/2323(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Delivering a new deal for energy consumers - Tackling energy poverty as part of the Energy Union (debate)
Amendments (25)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission Communication entitled "An EU Strategy on Heating and Cooling" (COM(2016)51),
Amendment 52 #
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 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
da. ensure a functioning and competitive internal energy market to provide choices for consumers;
Amendment 71 #
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 democraticinclusive energy system which benefits society as a whole, increases the involvement of citizens and local, local and regional actors and 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 95 #
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 fully realised, as for example evidenced by low levels of consumer switching and satisfaction across the EUin many Member States, persistent high levels of market concentration, and the failure to reflect falling wholesale costs in retail prices also due to a rising share of fixed elements like taxes and levies in energy bills;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point a
Paragraph 6 – point a
a. Recommends improving the frequency of energy bills and their 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 standardcommends to enhance the exchange of best practices in this respect;
Amendment 140 #
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 by switchingalso consumers lacking internet access or skills receive all necessary information to be able to make informed decisions, such as comparisons of offers; believes that peer-based comparisons should also be included in billsare an important tool to help reduce energy use;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point c
Paragraph 6 – point c
c. Recommends developing rulEU-guidelines 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;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point d
Paragraph 6 – point d
d. Recommends that there should be a limited range of standardised tariffs, in order to facilitate comparison between different suppliers and tariffs and avoid a confusing array of different tariffs for the same product;eleted
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point e
Paragraph 6 – point e
e. Recommends that consideration be given to requiring energy suppliers to automatically placeenergy suppliers should continuously inform customers onabout the most advantageous tariffs available, where possible, based on historic consumption patterns; notes, given that switching rates are low throughout Europein many Member States, that many households, especially the most vulnerable, are not engaged in the energy market and are stuck on outdated expensive tariffs;
Amendment 218 #
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, also 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 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Amendment 240 #
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 suppliersencouraged to become active players in the energy market on an equal footing with other players;
Amendment 270 #
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 aone of the priorityies for the EIB, EFSI and the Structural Funds;
Amendment 289 #
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 energy; believes that grid tariffs and other fees should be non-discriminatory and should fairly reflect the impact ofinclude a fair distribution of costs between prosumers and consumers bearing the consumersts onf the grid, whilein order to guaranteeing sufficient funding for the maintenance and development of distribution grids as well as the balance and frequency management necessary for the functioning of the grid ; 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 304 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recommends reducing to an absolute minimum the administrative barriers to new self-generation capacity, in particular through removing market access restrictions and simplification of processes, and suggests replacing lengthy authorisation procedures with a simple notification requirement; suggests that the revision of the renewable energy directive could include specific provisions to remove barriers and promote community/cooperative energy schemes; Stresses, however, the need to assess the responsibilities of prosumers in balancing the grid;
Amendment 320 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Points out that to incentivise demand response, fostering trust of consumers in the market and giving them access to price signals that reward flexible consumption is essential ; In particular, energy prices must vary between peak and off-peak periods, and therefore supports the development of dynamic pricing on an opt-in basis, subject to a thorough assessment of its impacts on all consumerand stresses the need to deploy technologies that give the right price signals; believes that dynamic tariffs must be transparent, comparable and clearly explained;
Amendment 323 #
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 termdemand response solutions are conditional to the development of user-friendly technologies, data-sharing platforms and interoperable smart devices that allow consumers to have access to real time or near real time information of their consumption data and related costs, 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 savings from smart meters should be shared on a fair basis between grid operators and users;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises that the development of smart technologies must not leaand connected devices is providing more transparency and control to consumers over the most vulnerable or less engaged consumers behind, nor see bills rise;ir energy use, eventually to the benefit, efficiency and lowering of costs of the energy system as a whole; considers that interoperability and standards for smart devices and components are essential to ensure innovation and uptake of these technologies, as well as education and skills, while solutions for less engaged consumers should be maintained.
Amendment 360 #
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 managing data access, in a non-discriminatory manner towards all market participants, 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 informationwithdraw that consent in line with the Data protection legislation within a framework that ensures that DSOs have the required data to run the networks ;
Amendment 370 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Highlights the importance of data flows and the integration of digital technologies into energy systems for innovation in the energy sector; stresses in particular the potential for innovation, in mobile applications and software developments, of data-sharing platforms that provide access to the information flow in the electricity grid, while ensuring data protection and security.
Amendment 376 #
21. Calls foron 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 right; urges the Commission to prioritise measures to alleviate energy poverty in upcoming legislative proposals and to present a dedicated action plan by mid- 2017Member States to enhance the exchange of best practices on tackling energy poverty as well as better exchange of information and increased collaboration on how to adequately protect the most vulnerable;
Amendment 402 #
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 410 #
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 through social security policiesconsumer vulnerability; calls for action to ensure that energy-efficient renovation of existing buildings gives priority toadequately 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 440 #
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 promotedinformation and support mechanisms are needed for low-income, vulnerable citizens; highlights the importance of an independent single point of contact in every Member State, which is accessible also to consumers with a lack of access to new media, such as the internet;