This Friday (ninth September) the EU vitality ministers will meet once more to attempt to rein in hovering vitality costs.
Loads might be performed in 11 months, but as a substitute of programming structural investments to realize vitality independence and shatter the oligopoly of huge vitality firms, Europe took time. Via one short-term measure after one other the European Union delayed any sort of assertion, by no means thoughts intervention, that might reveal that the Emperor of our time — the market — has no garments.
Whereas the Fee and Council presidents are in a tight PR competitors calling for “concrete measures” and a reform of an vitality market which “isn’t match for function”, their actions inform a distinct story.
The July European Council introduced a set of measures geared at decreasing consumption, however the market construction went untouched. “Preserving the integrity” of the one market is the mantra slicing throughout any official doc rising from the Council and the Fee.
Preserving the integrity of the planet, of future generations or of human dignity does not determine as soon as. It is simpler to modify off total cities, leaving individuals to the scorching warmth of the previous warmth waves or the dramatic winter awaiting us, than query the obscene monetary hypothesis unfolding earlier than our eyes.
Wishy-washy want checklist
The proposals put ahead by the Czech presidency for the upcoming assembly are, in the intervening time, little greater than a want checklist with no concrete plan of motion: decoupling gasoline and electrical energy, value caps and growing liquidity available in the market. Whereas all this sounds good, we all know full nicely that in politics the satan is within the particulars.
The leaked Fee proposals are even much less bold with the ever-present warning to “not distort the market” when arguably a market that drags working class individuals throughout Europe into poverty whereas permitting vitality firms to make astronomical income is already extremely distorted.
Placing a cap on vitality costs, argues the Fee, dangers growing the demand for gasoline, threatening storage targets. This nevertheless is already taking place: through the first seven months of 2022 Europe has really elevated using gasoline for energy era when in comparison with final yr.
Maybe extra thought ought to be given to the hypothesis going down on the vitality and gasoline markets, with merchants utilizing synthetic intelligence to extend costs.
Allow us to be clear: Europe’s short-sighted measures are defending a system which permits a number of chosen firms to get richer by betting on a dismal future for everyone else.
As households flip off their lights to ease the ever growing payments, Europe calls on its individuals to sacrifice a level or two of warmth of their houses. Decreasing consumption is by all means a needed step, however with out redistributive insurance policies it turns into a regressive, if not merciless, political consequence.
Lottery for the poor
Those that can afford it, will proceed paying excessive vitality payments with out essentially altering their habits; these fortunate sufficient to get pleasure from the advantages of an environment friendly residence will scale back their consumption, whereas the poorest will face a lottery — authorities/state assist within the quick time period and sure selecting up the tab of big vitality bail outs in future.
As if this weren’t dystopian sufficient, recreation exhibits within the UK now supply money prizes or the extra profitable prize of fee of vitality payments.
Band aids have by no means been sufficient, but now they’re harmful as a result of they serve little function apart from hiding the deep wounds of the system.
We won’t get out of this vitality disaster with out addressing the structural flaws underpinning this vitality mannequin and that are regulated by European regulation.
The opaque pricing system which doesn’t enable us to know the worth paid by massive vitality firms wants to alter. We have to put an finish to the marginal pricing mannequin for vitality, permitting firms to make document breaking income.
As we brace ourselves for a chilly winter, a ban on disconnections and the introduction of value caps and tax on windfall income are the primary needed measures, however they don’t seem to be sufficient. If the European Union is severe about tackling the disaster and decreasing consumption it wants to ensure environment friendly housing, public providers, greater wages and environment friendly public transport for all.
Most significantly, it’s excessive time for Europe to reclaim vitality as a vital good beneath public management. The failure of the vitality market is painfully in entrance of our eyes. What are we ready for?
