Bill to protect vulnerable consumers and fight energy poverty

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill, introduced by the Socialist Parliamentary Group, seeks to protect vulnerable energy consumers and fight energy poverty, which current laws have not addressed sufficiently.
2. The bill would classify as vulnerable consumers those who do not exceed basic energy consumption thresholds and are in situations such as receiving minimum pensions, having all family members unemployed, or having low incomes. The status would apply to electricity, natural gas, butane and propane.
3. It proposes an affordable social rate, approved every quarter by the Council of Ministers, to cover basic household needs. The shortfall for energy companies would be treated as a system cost, funded through charges or the State Budget.
4. Energy poverty would be recognized when a vulnerable consumer spends more than ten percent of the household income per year on energy bills for basic needs.
5. Companies could not cut off supply to people in energy poverty without prior authorization, nor during cold months or when supply is needed for health. Those already cut off for non-payment could request reconnection paying only the debt within six months.
6. The Government would have to approve a strategy to eradicate energy poverty, with aid to renovate homes, and assess the impact of energy rules on this problem. A confidential registry of people in energy poverty would also be created.

Who it affects

• Vulnerable consumers: people on minimum pensions, families with all members unemployed, large families, or households with very low incomes.: Would gain access to an affordable social rate and protection against supply cuts.
• People in energy poverty, meaning those who spend more than ten percent of household income on energy bills.: Would have their situation recognized, with protection against cuts and access to aid to improve their home's energy efficiency.
• Energy supply and retail companies.: Would need prior authorization to cut off supply and would see the social rate shortfall treated as a system cost.
• The Government, the National Markets and Competition Commission, and the autonomous communities.: Would have to approve the quarterly social rate, an anti-poverty strategy, and the procedure for authorizing supply cuts.

Words worth knowing

Tarifa social (social rate)

A reduced, regulated price for energy supply for people with the fewest resources.

Coste del sistema (system cost)

A cost shared among all users of the energy system or paid through the State Budget, instead of being borne only by companies or a few consumers.

Eficiencia energética (energy efficiency)

A home's ability to need less energy for heating, lighting, and working properly.

Fichero (registry)

An official record where people's data is kept, in this case with confidential and protected access.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries