New EU energy regulations: cleaner and safer energy and greater consumer protection

New rules for the electricity and gas markets are coming into force across the EU. Their aim is to achieve a cleaner, safer and more resilient European energy system. They protect citizens from fluctuations in energy prices and give them greater rights and control over their energy choices.

Revised electricity market rules: more choice and protection.

The 2022 energy crisis exposed consumers and businesses to extreme price volatility, with record gas prices and soaring electricity bills. The reform of theEU’selectricity market rulesaims to make the energy market more resilient, boost renewable energy, better protect consumersand improve Europe’s competitiveness.

For consumers, this means:

• a wider range of options between fixed-price and dynamic-price contracts, offering greater price stability and predictability.
• Greater safeguards when choosing or switching energy suppliers, with clearer information before signing a contract, making it easierto compare offers and make informed decisions.
• New opportunities to generate and share renewable energy with neighbours and communities, enabling more people to benefit from locally produced clean electricity.
• Greater protectionfor the most vulnerable customers, including protection against disconnection. In emergency situations, EU countries may temporarily set prices below cost for a limited amount of electricity consumption, to help ensure that electricity remains affordable.
• Protection through a supplier of last resortin the event that the electricity supplier fails.

A cleaner and more secure European gas market.

Thenewgas market rulesencourage the gradual replacement of fossil gas with renewable and low-carbon gases, in particular hydrogen. 

They will do so:

• Create amore secure and integrated European gas market,with reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels.
• Strengthen consumer rights and protections, including the freedom to choose a supplier, better information on offers and protection in the event of a dispute with an energy supplier.
• Ensure thatvulnerable consumersand those affected by energy poverty aregiven special protection against having their gas supply cut off, even during the energy transition.
• Support the EU’s climate targets.

The new rules for the electricity market will apply from 17 July 2026, whilst those for the gas market will apply from 5 August 2026.

 

More information: European Commission