Στοιχεία της γνωμοδότησης 

THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

- emphasises the important role played by local authorities in implementing European legislation in this field, creating and financing infrastructure for distribution, metering and managing energy demand, managing decentralised production and sharing best practices developed at local and regional level, as well as informing and advising energy consumers; calls on the European Union and Member States to establish a regulatory framework that would be profitable both for energy consumers and for the "prosumers" and other energy suppliers who participate actively in energy retail markets;

- underlines the fact that genuine consumer autonomy depends upon raising awareness in people's minds, through suitable measures such as the installation of smart meters and consumer access to the information they provide, about the rational use of energy, environmental protection – in particular improvement of air quality – and combating global warming;

- insists upon the need to adopt, at European level, a strict framework for the security and protection of private life with regard to meters;

- points out that the European Commission and national and regional regulatory bodies should ensure that switching processes are smooth and that consumers – especially those in the most vulnerable situations – have access to personalised advice on choosing a supply contract as well as assistance when switching supplier and/or contract.