New legislation on improving the rights of consumers and helping them to have more
control over energy bills has been voted on by MEPs.
The laws include provisions for EU residents to change their energy suppliers within three weeks and not be charged for it and to receive the final closure account no later than six weeks after changing their gas and electricity providers.
Other plans voted on were compensation for consumers if their energy bills were inaccurate or their service levels were falling short and information on their rights to be made available through company websites.
"The new legislation would also oblige Member States to guarantee universal service to all household customers and, if necessary, small enterprises (with fewer than 50 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet of less than €10 million)," a statement from the European Parliament said.
"Those customers would then have the right to be supplied with electricity of a specified quality at reasonable, easily and clearly comparable, transparent and non-discriminatory prices."
The plans have now reached their second-reading stage.
