Full Description
The Routledge Handbook of Consumer Protection and Behaviour in Energy Markets provides a comprehensive study of consumer protection and consumer behaviour in selected jurisdictions worldwide. Each chapter is written by experts and provides a contemporary overview of national consumer protection and policy developments in the energy sector.
Today energy has become an essential factor in ensuring the socio-economic development of any country and improving the quality of life of society and is now an essential element of life for everyone. The energy market has become a competitive market, based on the assumption that generation and sale of energy is not a natural monopoly and that market mechanisms, in particular competition between energy companies, are the best way to reduce prices and improve customer service. The purchase of energy is inextricably linked with its distribution from the producer to the purchaser.
The book shows that well-functioning energy markets need informed and well protected consumers, who can benefit from competition and transparent offers. They are free to choose the most competitive providers, and know their rights, with access to effective means of redress. Given that the energy market has a specific, technical nature, the book analyses the energy market within the scope of free market principles, with a focus on the protection of the weaker party to the contract: the consumer. In addition, consumers can also play an active part of the clean energy transition.
Contents
Lists of figures
List of tables
List of contributors
PART I: Introduction
1. Consumer Protection in Energy Markets - An Introduction
2. Consumer protection in the European Union
3. Consumer Protection in Energy Markets from the Perspective of Behavioural Law and Economics
4. Consumer Rights Awareness
5. "Greenwashing" in the EU, the selected EU Member States and the UK
6. The Universal Service
PART II: Europe
7. Consumer Protection in the UK Energy Sector
8. The Protection of Consumers in Energy Markets: The Case of France
9. German Consumer Protection in the Energy Sector
10. Energy Consumer Law and Governance in Hungary
11. Effects of Legal Regulation on Consumer Protection in The Polish Energy Market
12. Energy Customers in the Changing Landscape of the Lithuanian Energy Market
13. Legal Guarantees of Consumer Protection and Pro-Social Regulation Within the Energy Sector of Ukraine
PART III: Africa, North America and Latin America
14. Consumer Protection in the US Energy Market
15. Energy Poverty, Empowerment and Self-generation in Brazil: Trends in Consumer Protection and Behaviour Insight
16. Argentine Energy Regulation: The National Agencies System
17. The Influence of Institutions and Regulations On The Consumer In The Chilean Electricity Sector
18. The Nigerian Energy Sector Reforms and the Question of Energy Choices of Consumers
19. Energy Poverty and the Challenges of Consumer Access to Electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa
PART IV: Asia and Australia
20. Legal Instruments of Energy Transition and Consumer Protection in Kazakhstan
21. Turkish System of Consumer Protection in the Electricity Market
22. The protection of consumers in the Israeli energy market
23. Consumer's Behaviour in the Energy Sector - Chinese Case
24. From Coal to Clean Electricity - Consumer Behaviour and Consumer Protection in Indian Energy Law and Policy
25. The Bamboo That Bends is Stronger Than the Oak That Resists: Active Energy Consumers in Japan
26. Consumer Protection in Australia's Energy Transformation: The National Energy Market (NEM)
27. Iranian System of Consumer and Competition Laws in the Electricity Market
28. Consumer Protection System in Energy Sector in Mena Region: With Special Emphasis On United Arab Emirates (UAE)
PART V: The Future of Consumer Protection and Regulation on Energy Market
29. The Future of Consumer Protection and Regulation of the Energy Market
30. The Neo-Liberal Approach and Consumer Protection
Index
