The role of consumers in EU energy policy

While EU energy policy attaches much importance to consumers, it is still far from realizing an energy system that is able to meet user needs and interests, as well as offer full freedom-of-choice in an efficient, low-cost, secure and sustainable manner. In order to assess these issues and provide input to theory and practice, this article examines the assumptions on which the EU policy has been based, using insights from different streams of literature. Policy development does not seem to have fully taken account of more specific behavioral features of consumers and (energy) product properties. Moreover, roles and interests of different types of consumers are deemed very important for the shape and functioning of liberalized markets, but appear insufficiently understood and embedded. While competition, transparency and switching are central components, they are more complex than assumed on the basis of models, and that what emerges when actual behavior is considered.