This work is dedicated to the problem of energy poverty at different levels and combines consumer, social and civil law issues. Directive 2009/72 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on common rules for the internal market in electricity and repealing Directive 2003/54 / EC contained a specific implementation mandate to combat energy poverty as early as 2009. To this end, the Member States should develop a concept that relates to vulnerable consumers and their protection from power cuts. This implementation mandate is confirmed by the successor Directive (EU) 2019/944. The extent to which the existing regulations in social, civil and antitrust law already guarantee adequate protection against energy poverty – especially with regards to European requirements and the protection of vulnerable consumers – is examined within this work. Based on this result, legal policy and legal considerations on protection against energy poverty are summarized in a policy mix.
Link to publication