Changes

Fostering a competitive energy market requires independent regulators. Among other aspects, regulators are required by law to run independent budgets and be able to impose binding decisions and penalties upon non-compliance.

A new Agency, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), was formed to help national regulators coordinate the smooth functioning of an integrated energy market. The agency is independet of the European Commission, national governments, and energy companies. Areas of work for the agency include: deciding on cross-border issues in case of disagreement and monitoring e.g. retail prices.