Energy bills are rising again, and millions of Europeans are struggling to keep the heating on. The European Commission has responded with four recommendations to protect vulnerable households from disconnections, slash the red tape around switching suppliers, and open the door to citizen-owned clean energy. The package is the EU’s most concrete step yet to put consumers, not fossil fuel markets, in control.
Since the Middle East conflict escalated, the EU has spent an additional €24bn on energy imports without receiving a single extra unit of energy. The recommendations published today are Brussels’ answer: practical measures designed to reduce that exposure, starting with the household energy bill. They deliver on the Citizens Energy Package and the AccelerateEU plan, both adopted earlier this year.
Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen framed it as a turning point. “This must be the moment when we accelerate the transition to a more sustainable, secure, and consumer-focused energy system,” he said.
Protecting the most vulnerable
The first recommendation calls on member states to identify at-risk households early. Support should reach them before disconnections happen, through payment plans, debt advice, and energy vouchers. As the EU phases out natural gas, one-stop shops should guide households toward cleaner alternatives. Member states are urged to draw fully on EU and national funding.
This must be the moment when we accelerate the transition to a more sustainable, secure, and consumer-focused energy system.
— Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing
A second recommendation targets the retail energy market. Standardising contract terms should make it easier to compare deals and switch suppliers. A new implementing regulation goes further: supplier switching must be completable within 24 hours across the EU by the end of 2026. Switching alone could save households up to €152 a year.
A third recommendation guides national regulators on enforcing supplier risk management rules. The goal is to reduce the likelihood of bankruptcies and protect consumers from sudden disruptions or unexpected bill increases.
You might be interested
The fourth targets energy communities and self-consumption. It aims to remove barriers for citizens, small businesses, and local authorities who want to produce and share their own renewable energy. An accompanying action plan sets out the concrete steps the Commission will take to support their development across the EU.
From ambition to practice
The recommendations are not legally binding. Their impact depends on how quickly member states act. The Commission said it will monitor progress and provide technical assistance, working closely with governments, regulators, and civil society
Europe faces yet another fossil energy crisis. This must be a wake-up call and a turning point.
— Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing
Mr Jørgensen was direct about the stakes. “Europe faces yet another fossil energy crisis. This must be a wake-up call and a turning point, when Europe steps away from fossil fuel dependence and towards clean energy autonomy,” he said.
