Market Studies
Retail energy market study
The 2 nd Scoreboard found malfunctioning in the retail electricity market.
A follow-up study (2010) 
assessed whether consumers benefit from a well-functioning market for choice, price and quality and how easy it was to make choices in the market.
Findings:
- 62% of mystery shoppers across the EU found a cheaper tariff that could save on average about € 100 annually if switching to the cheapest offer.
- Switching rates are above 10% in only 7 Member States. Consumers do not take advantage of opportunities for cheaper tariffs. .
- Only 47% of consumers across the EU know how much they consume;
- 41% do not knowwhether they have the cheapest tariff. Consumers are generally poorly informed about the market.
- Only 28% of consumers across the EU were satisfied with the way their complaint was handled.
- Households in lower consumption bands pay more per unit than those consuming more electricity in most Member States; in some cases the amount per unit is significantly higher.
Relevant documents
- Press release: "EU consumers could save €13 billion in electricity bills, study finds"
- Staff working paper: "The functioning of the retail electricity markets for consumers in the European Union"
- Staff working paper: "An energy policy for consumers"
- Full study: "The functioning of the retail electricity markets for consumers in the European Union"
- Country fact sheets