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News

CI’s proposal for work on energy services standard gains ISO approval

An international standard for energy services, proposed by CI and some of its member organisations, has been approved by the global standards body, ISO.

The new standard will mean better service and better protection for consumers, whether they are inside or outside fixed networks, as well as more information on plans for network changes.

It will provide an effective tool to help both government and business deliver access to sustainable energy. It will also provide guidance on how to identify users' needs and expectations and how to assess whether they are being met.

CI has done similar work on water which resulted in ISO 24510: 'Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services: Guidelines for the assessment and for the improvement of the service to users.'

The services covered by the energy standard will include gas, electricity and hot water district heating systems, as well as distributed fuels and off-grid systems.

It will promote consumer protection, mechanisms for network extension where they are incomplete, and standards and safeguards for new and existing consumers.

What are the benefits of the new standard?

For consumers, benefits will include:

1. Rights to service for those outside fixed networks
2. For those within fixed networks, greater equity and certainty in hours of service
3. Greater transparency in such matters as plans for network roll-out, price setting and contractual rights
4. Greater ease of payment
5. Better concentration of subsidy on the poor

For suppliers, benefits will include:

1. Greater clarity of obligations
2. Rational use of subsidy rather than arbitrary diversion of resources
3. Greater clarity of public and regulatory expectations
4. The opportunity to develop more market-based and market-sensitive means of addressing energy user issues as local conditions allow
5. Development of forums for policy discussion with associated improvement in reputation

For regulators, there will be benefits in greater clarity of service planning and tariff setting,

greater public pressure for release of service information, and more rational use of subsidies.

Where will the standard apply?

The standard is intended to apply globally, therefore, most of the issues covered will apply to all countries, such as service contracts, payment methods, price determinations, tariffs and subsidies and the needs of poor consumers.

But the standard will also take into account the local circumstances, particularly in developing and transitional economies, such as non-integrated systems and equitable supply management. With new energy networks being developed and planned in emerging countries, the standard will give good guidance to energy authorities and operators to meet the expectations of consumers and the principles of sustainable development.

Who will develop the standard?

The proposal CI and its partners submitted to the Committee on Consumer Policy of the International Organization for Standardization (COPOLCO), 'Guidelines for the assessment and improvement of energy services to users', was drafted by CI experts and has been strongly supported by CI members in Korea and Malaysia, among others.

This is the first time that an international standard will be developed based on a new work item proposal submitted by CI. Standards are normally proposed by industry or requested by governments to underpin legislation.

The Korean Standards Body will host the secretariat that will organise the committee to develop the standard. National bodies who have said they will actively participate in writing the standard are Argentina, Iraq, Ireland, Korea, Malaysia, South Africa, Sweden, with Peru and the USA as observers.

It's important that consumer representatives are part of this process and CI members can do this either at the national level or, if nominated, as part of their national delegation at international meetings or through CI representation.

If you are a CI member organisation and interested in getting involved in our work with ISO, please contact us at consint@consint.org .

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Energy Charter