Twenty European companies and associations are calling on EU heads of State to show the courage and vision to create a single market for electricity by 2015.
European legislation has guaranteed some choice of electricity provider, but only 5% of Europe’s electricity is traded across borders. As a consequence, competition is inefficient and allows electricity suppliers to pass any increase in the price of the coal, gas – or in the future carbon – straight onto the consumer without risk of significant loss of business. This is not acceptable.
A properly functioning European market in electricity would have many benefits:
* increased competition leading, in the long-term, to reduced electricity prices
* improved security of supply (and reduced risk of blackouts)
* reaping the full advantages of fuel-free, pollution-free renewable energy sources produced in ever greater quantities in many parts of Europe
* opportunities for increased trade in electricity regardless of the source.
Companies supporting the declaration are: Acciona, Enercon, Enel Green Power, EON Climate & Renewables, GE Energy, Mainstream Renewable Power, PPC Renewables, RES, Siemens, SSE Renewables, Vattenfall and Vestas.
Associations supporting the declaration are: European Biomass Association (AEBIOM), European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC), the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC), the European Solar Thermal Electricity Association (ESTELA), European Biomass Industry Association (EUBIA), European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and the Friends of the Supergrid.
In order to achieve a single market in electricity, Europe needs both the infrastructure to transport electricity from one part of Europe to another, and a common set of market rules. An interconnected system of roads, railways, shipping and air routes throughout Europe is a precondition for maintaining Europe’s four freedoms, created by the Single European Act 25 years ago: the free movement of goods, services, capital and labour. Europe needs a fifth freedom – the free movement of electricity across borders – and effective competition and an interconnected electricity grid are key to establishing it.
