Electricity proviision as a European service of general economic interest - a conceptual debate

Abstract

Today the universal and secure supply of energy is facing profound changes and challenges in European regions. Recent updates on energy policies in the EU propel the decentralization of energy generation driven by citizens’ engagement, fueling scientific debates on how inclusive these new frameworks really are. We look back at all four legislative ‘Energy packages’ of the EU (1996, 2003, 2009, 2019) with a focus on the Clean Energy Package 2019. Did the changes towards completing a common internal market for energy and reacting to the climate crisis affect standards of SGI provision, such as availability, accessibility, affordability, quality and variety?