European energy policy is aimed at ensuring secure, safe and sustainable energy supplies to all businesses and households in the EU at affordable prices.

The Energy 2020 strategy stresses the role of consumers. Empowering consumers and achieving the highest level of safety and security is one of its five priorities. This will ensure that not only are consumers better off as a result of market opening and competition, but can recognise the benefits of the internal market.

Many of the EU energy policy measures are aimed to have a specific impact on consumers. The internal energy market legislation sets high standards of consumer protection and the liberalization of gas and electricity markets are the basis to create a potential of choice and price competition that consumers can tap into.

European measures are complemented by national and local measures such as energy subsidy schemes which contribute substantially to efficiency improvements. However other measures, intended to promote consumer interests, sometimes have had the opposite effect. For example, retail price regulations have often rendered the emergence of choice and competition, more difficult and frustrated investments.