28 Amendments of Peter KOUROUMBASHEV related to 2016/0380(COD)
Amendment 62 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The Energy Union Framework Strategy sets out the vision of an Energy Union with citizens at its core, where citizens take ownership of the energy transition, benefit from new technologies to reduce their bills, participate actively in the market, and where vulnerable and energy poor consumers are protected.
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The Communication from the Commission of 15 July 2015 'Delivering a new deal for energy consumers30 ' put forward the Commission's vision for a retail market that better serves energy consumers, including by better linking wholesale and retail markets. Taking advantage of new technologyies, new and innovative energy service companies should enable all consumers to raise their awareness of their energy consumption and to fully participate in the energy transition, managing their consumption to deliver energy efficient solutions which save them money and contribute to overall reduction of energy consumption. __________________ 30 COM (2015) 339 final of 15.7.2015.
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) Energy bills and annual statements are an important means through which customers are informed. As weEnergy bills asnd annual statements provide data on consumption and costs, while they can also convey other information that helps consumers to compare their current deal with other offers. However, considering that bill-related disputes are a very common source of consumer complaints, a factor whichbills and annual statements contributes to persistently low levels of consumer satisfaction and engagement in the energy sector,. Therefore it is necessary to make bills and annual statements clearer and easier to understand, as well as to ensure that bills contain all the information necessary to enable consumers to regulate their energy consumption, compare offers and switch suppliers.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) In order to assist consumers' active participation in the electricity market, the smart metering systems to be deployed by Member States in their territory should be interoperable, not represent a barrier to switching of supplier, and should be equipped with fit-for-purpose functionalities that allow consumers to have near-real time access to their consumption data, modulate their energy consumption and, to the extent that the supporting infrastructure permits, offer their flexibility to the network and to energy services companies, be rewarded for it, and achieve savings in their electricity bill. Smart meters shall be free of charge to energy-poor final household consumers.
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 41
Recital 41
(41) Energy poverty is a growing problem in the Union. Member States which are affected by energy poverty and which have not yet done so should therefore develop national action plans or other appropriate frameworks to tackle energy poverty this problem, aiming at decreasing the number of people suffering such situationenergy poor customers. Low income, high energy expenditure, and poor energy efficiency of homes are relevant factors in designing indicators for the measurement of energy poverty. In any event, Member States should ensure the necessary energy supply for vulnerable and energy poor customers. In doing so, an integrated approach, such as in the framework of energy and social policy, could be used and measures could include social policies or energy efficiency improvements for housing. At the very least, tThis Directive should allowenhance national policies in favour of vulnerable and energy poor customers.
Amendment 179 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 18
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 18
18. ‘smart metering system’ means an electronic system that can measure energy consumption in near-real time, providing more information than a conventional meter, and can transmit and receive data for information, monitoring and control purposes, using a form of electronic communication;
Amendment 199 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 39
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 39
39. 'regional opercoordinational centre' means the regional opercoordinational centre as defined in Article 32 of the [recast of Regulation 714/2009 as proposed by COM(2016)861/2]. (This amendment applies throughout the text adopting it will necessite changes throughout.)
Amendment 202 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 47
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 47
47. 'energy storage' means, in the electricity system, deferring an amount of the electricity that was generated to the moment of use, either as final energy or converted intothe conversion of electrical energy into a form of energy which can be stored, the storing of that energy, and the subsequent reconversion of that energy back into electrical energy or another energy carrier.
Amendment 370 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point i a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point i a (new)
(ia) shall define the concept of vulnerable customers as referred to in Article 28 and set rules for the protection of customers who are indebted including the prohibition of disconnection of electricity and gas to such customers in critical times
Amendment 371 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point i a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point i a (new)
(ia) shall, in accordance with the concept of vulnerable consumers as described in Article 28, prohibit the disconnection of electricity and gas to vulnerable consumers;
Amendment 377 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point j a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point j a (new)
(ja) are provided with a summary of the key contractual conditions (such as the main features of the service, detailed information on prices, conditions for switching and price increase) in concise and simple language on the first page of the contract or along with the contract
Amendment 384 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point j b (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point j b (new)
(jb) are allowed to terminate the contract with suppliers and providers of additional products and/or services (bundled offers) at any time at no cost in case a contract is extended without customer consent
Amendment 416 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Every final customer shall always be required to give active consent before being switched to a dynamic price contract.
Amendment 556 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. final household customers have easy and clear access to information, including through their single point of contact in Article 25, on their rights that apply to their participation in the market as active consumers.
Amendment 625 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) final household customers have easy access to information, including through their single point of contact in Article 25, on their rights to participate in a local energy community, including how to exercise their entitlement to join, participate in, and leave an energy community, and how to access alternative dispute mechanisms.
Amendment 722 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 a (new)
Article 17 a (new)
Article 17a Aggregators Member States shall ensure that their regulatory frameworks encourage the participation of aggregators in all markets and relevant mechanisms at wholesale and retail level and contain at least the following elements: a) the right for aggregators to enter the market without consent from other market participants; b) the right for aggregators to conclude a contract with a final customer without the consent of the supplier c) aggregators shall be balancing responsible parties and financially responsible for imbalances in their portfolio d) aggregators shall not be required to pay compensation to suppliers or generators; 2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, Member States may by DATE [five years after entry into force of this directive] set a level of compensation for energy sold or procured during a demand response activity, expected to promote an economically efficient deployment of explicit demand response which shall not exceed an average wholesale energy market price when the following conditions are met : a) the requirements of Article 9 of the Regulation on the internal market for electricity in relation to wholesale energy price restrictions have been meet; and b) aggregator participation in all relevant markets has reached a level pre- determined to be sufficient to ensure a sustainable demand aggregation industry; and c) the costs to consumers of aggregator participation in the relevant market can reasonably be demonstrated to exceed the consumer benefits.
Amendment 776 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 8 a (new)
Article 18 – paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Bills and settlement statements shall provide the most important information for consumers on the first page. The first page may contain a shortened version of the key information, with further details included in the in subsequent pages of the bill or settlement statement. Final customers will also be able to access more detailed information both online and through an offline format that is free of charge, consumer friendly and easily accessible so that household consumers without internet access are not at a disadvantage.
Amendment 795 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 4
Article 19 – paragraph 4
4. Member States that proceed with smart metering deployment shall ensure that final customers contribute to the associated costs of the roll-out in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner. Member States shall regularly monitor this deployment in their territories to track the evolution of costs and benefits for the whole value chain, including the delivery of net benefits to consumers. Energy-poor final household customers shall not be required to contribute to the associated costs and shall have the same access to smart meters as other final customers.
Amendment 796 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 4
Article 19 – paragraph 4
4. Member States that proceed with smart metering deployment shall ensure that final customers contribute to the associated costs of the roll-out in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner. Member States shall regularly monitor this deployment in their territories to track the evolution of costs and benefits for the whole value chain, including the delivery of net benefits to consumers. For vulnerable consumers, Member States shall establish industry-wide standards to ensure suppliers provide sufficient follow- up support.
Amendment 833 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 1
Article 23 – paragraph 1
1. When setting up the rules regarding the management and exchange of data, Member States or, where a Member State has so provided, the designated competent authorities shall specify the eligible parties which may have access to data of the final customer with their explicit consent in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council44 . For the purpose of this Directive, data shall include metering and consumption data as well as data required for consumer switching. Eligible parties shall include at least customers, suppliers, transmission and distribution system operators, aggregators, energy service companies, and other parties which provide energy or other services to customers. Upon request, eligible parties shall provide customers with an overview of the parties who have access to their data. __________________ 44 Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1).
Amendment 838 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 4
Article 23 – paragraph 4
4. No additional costs shall be charged to final customers for access to their data or their request to transfer their data. Member States shall be responsible for setting the relevant costs for access to data by eligible parties. Regulated entities which provide data services shall not profit from that activity.
Amendment 864 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 25 – paragraph 1
Article 25 – paragraph 1
Member States shall ensure the provision of single points of contact to provide customers consumers with all necessary information concerning their rights, current legislation, accredited comparison tools and the means of dispute settlement available to them in the event of a dispute between the final customer and the electricity supplier, energy service provider, aggregator or any other intermediary. Such contact points may be part of general consumer information points.
Amendment 869 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Member States shall ensure that an independent mechanism such as an energy ombudsman or a consumer body is in place in order to ensure efficient treatment of complaints and out-of-court dispute settlements. cCustomers have access to simple, fair, transparent, independent, effective and efficient out-of-court dispute resolution mechanisms for the settlement of disputes concerning rights and obligations established under this Directive. Where the costumer is a consumer within thMember States shall ensure that an independent mechanism such as an energy ombudsman or a consumer body is in place in order to ensure efficient treatment of complaints and out-of-court dispute settlements. Those mechaning of Directive 2013/11/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council46 , such out-of-court mechanisms shall comply with the quality requirements established in Directive 2013/11/EU and provide, where warranted, fsms shall be extended to all energy service providers, aggregators and all contracts with energy components, including bundled offers and local energy communities whose participation shall be mandatory. Member States shall not allow suppliers to disconnect vulnerable customers until any dispute between the supplier and the customer is settled. Member States shall ensure that electricity suppliers, energy service providers and aggregators provide information on the out-of-court dispute settlement on their website and in all communication with their customers. Member States shall regularly assess the functioning of the out-of-court dispute settlement mechanisms, especially with regards to the participation and compliance of electricity suppliers, energy service providers, aggregators a system of reimbursement and/or compensation . __________________ 46nd intermediaries, and consider strengthening their mandatory participation in out-of-court dispute settlement mechanisms. __________________ 46 OJ L 165, 18.6.2013, p. 63–79 OJ L 165, 18.6.2013, p. 63–79
Amendment 881 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 1
Article 28 – paragraph 1
1. . Member States shall take appropriate measures to protect final customers and shall, in particular, ensure that there are adequate safeguards to protect vulnerable customers. In this context, each Member State shall define the concept of vulnerable customers which mayshall refer to energy poverty and, inter alia, to ensure the prohibition of disconnection of electricity to such customers in critical timunder any circumstances. Member States shall ensure that rights and obligations linked to vulnerable customers are applied. In particular, they shall take measures to protect customers in remote areas. They shall ensure high levels of consumer protection, particularly with respect to transparency regarding contractual terms and conditions, general information and dispute settlement mechanisms.
Amendment 1030 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 40 – paragraph 1 – point j b (new)
Article 40 – paragraph 1 – point j b (new)
(jb) data management, cyber security and data protection.
Amendment 1180 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 59 – paragraph 1 – point q
Article 59 – paragraph 1 – point q
(q) helping to ensure, together with other relevant authorities, that the new and existing consumer protection measures, including rights of active customers and, in particular, final household customers are effective and enforced;
Amendment 1290 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex II – point 1 – paragraph 2 – point d
Annex II – point 1 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) the contact details of the supplier including a conswith at least the phone number support hotlineand email address;
Amendment 1291 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex II – point 1 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Annex II – point 1 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(da) the information on switching and dispute settlement;