Secretariat reviews the fitness of vulnerable customers’ support schemes to overcome energy crisis

Today, the Secretariat published its report on 'Protection of vulnerable households in the Western Balkans Contracting Parties' in the context of rising energy prices and the EU Energy Support Package. The report analyses how the Western Balkans Contracting Parties support the vulnerable and energy poor households during the energy crisis, particularly differentiating between the overall support for all households and the assistance to those in extreme need. In the framework of the EU Energy Support Package provided by the European Commission to the Western Balkans, the report takes stock of the agreed-upon activities and those in the pipeline to assist in mitigating the immediate socio-economic impacts of the energy crisis.

The actions envisaged under the Energy Support Package are to be completed by December 2023. To quantify the effectiveness of the action, it will be necessary to analyse the data on disbursed funds and to benchmark the achieved targets against the set indicators. The Secretariat’s report draws preliminary conclusions and highlights the need to ensure market-based supply prices for households as well as adequate measures for protection of energy poor and vulnerable customers pursuant to the Energy Community legislation. The Western Balkans Contracting Parties are invited to apply both short- and long-term support measures to alleviate energy poverty, in order to relive the financial situation of poor households and stimulate energy savings at the same time.