| Author (Person) | Carstens, Karen |
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| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.10, No.8, 4.3.04 |
| Publication Date | 04/03/2004 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 04/03/04 THE energy we use in our homes causes more greenhouse gas emissions than driving our cars, so the EU has decided to try to nip this problem in the bud. Enter a proposed energy services directive, which aims to fill the gap left by liberalization of the EU's gas and electricity markets. The trouble is that with once highly regulated markets opening up to competition, it is tempting for companies and governments to want to turn a profit by following a "supply, supply, supply" mantra versus trying to give their customers incentives, such as installing less wasteful lighting or better insulation. The energy services directive is widely regarded as crucial to redressing the balance by setting a minimum target for firms to improve efficiency by 1% annually. A first reading of the two-years-in-the-making proposal will not, however, take place in the European Parliament until next autumn. Meanwhile, the European Commission published a little-noticed document on 23 December 2003, in which it pledges to establish an intelligent energy agency as a separate, Brussels-based entity to promote energy-efficient products and policies. Last April, MEPs on the Parliament's energy committee voted through amendments requesting the establishment of such an agency, but this was opposed by member states. The idea is to ease the burden on staff at the Commission's energy directorate and to raise the political profile of "intelligent energy". The European Commission intends to issue a proposal for an energy services directive to encourage energy companies to become more energy efficient. Article also refers to a proposal from the Commission to establish an 'intelligent energy' agency. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Energy, Environment |
