What will happen to a “vulnerable” consumer (an unemployed, handicapped or retired person) who does not have enough income to pay market prices?
Vulnerable customers already have a high degree of protection in the current legislation since the entry into force of Electricity Directive 2003/54/EC of June 26, 2003 to ensure that they have access to the energy they need to lead a decent life. This is, for example, guaranteed through the possibility of governments to have a supplier of last resort, or measures to avoid disconnection. The EC is now defining more detailed binding guidelines to strengthen this protection.
