In this act was the call for the creation of local energy savings committees.These committees are designed to be a framework for co-operation and co-ordination at the local level. Energy companies are responsible for their creation. Energy companies are also encouraged to include the recommendations of these committees as much as possible in their energy savings plans. Mandatory members include representatives of the energy distribution and grid companies. Municipalities and other organisations (private companies, consumer and environmental groups, building and housing associations) are encouraged to participate.
The country has also implemented a number of schemes designed to promote energy savings in buildings and industry, and to support the use of more energy-efficient appliances. Click here to see what major current initiatives are currently being undertaken. To access energy conservation law and executive order documents, click here.
United Kingdom
The UK has supported the development of initiatives that include citizen input to utilities' energy plans.
The 2000 Utilities Act created Energywatch to be an advocate for consumers in the gas and electricity markets. Energywatch has a statutory duty to protect and promote the interests of existing and future gas and electricity consumers in England, Scotland and Wales by:
making proposals, or providing advice and information about consumer matters and representing the views of consumers on such matters;
investigating and seeking to resolve consumer complaints;
giving advice and information to Ministers, regulatory authorities, licence holders, and any other body whose activities may affect the interests of consumers; and,
publishing information on performance of energy utilities, complaints and where it is felt to be in the consumer interest.
Founded in 1989, the Public Utilities Access Forum (PUAF) is an informal association of organisations which helps to develop policy on the regulation of the public utilities, including energy utilities. PUAF facilitates the exchange of information and opinions between bodies especially those consumers with low incomes or special service needs, such as the elderly and people with mental and physical disabilities. It draws the particular problems of such consumers to the attention of the industries, the regulators and other relevant bodies, promoting the adoption of policies and practices which cater for their needs, exchanging information about service provision and promoting research. For a copy of the PUAF Consumer Charter, click here (22KB, PDF).
United States
Citizen councils in the US have been particularly successful in generating energy savings and lowering rates.
Click here (32KB, PDF) for a summary of the CUBs in Illinois, Wisconsin and Oregon. You can go directly to each organisation's website by clicking on the links below.
The Electricity Governance Intiative (EGI) is a collaborative undertaking ofPrayas-Prune (India), the World Resources Institute (WRI, USA) and the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP, India) to promote better governance in the electricity sector. EGI works with civil society and sector actors such as regulators, policymakers, sector officials and donote, to develop a common understanding of good governance in the technically complex electricity sector from the public interest perspective. The EGI includes partners from Australia, India, Indonesia, Phillippines and Thailand. For more information about this collaborative effort, click here.
For a list of website and organisations who are working on these issues, click here
Denmark