Energy Efficiency (Directive)

The Commission proposes a Directive obliging both the public purse and companies to take efficiency-related measures. For instance, to annually renovate 3% of public buildings in an energy-efficient manner. Energy supply companies are be held statutorily liable for energy savings of their customers of 1.5%.

cepPolicyBrief

The Proposal infringes the principle of subsidiarity as there is no cross-border problem. The demanded renovation of public buildings “would not lead to especially high energy savings”, as even the Commission itself admits, but would instead burden public budgets substantially. Therefore they are inappropriate. Energy supply companies cannot influence their customers’ behaviour. Therefore, they should not be held liable.