Fringe: World Energy Consumers Charter
Fringe Events F9, Monday 29 October 2007 (14:00- 16:00), Vibe Hotel – Milsons Room
Interactive Workshop with
Key Speakers: Allan Asher, Chief Executive, energywatch, UK
Elissa Freeman, Senior Policy Officer, CHOICE
Bjarne Pedersen, Consumers International
**Limited places available – To register now email jessica.myint.thinn@energywatch.org.uk
Energy is not just another commodity to be bought and sold without regard to social, environmental or
economic consequence. Energy is an essential service, the absence of which robs consumers of the
means for the satisfaction of basic needs for a decent standard of living.
At the opposite extreme, energy, or its profligate consumption is a major contributor to climate change
which also destroys the possibility of decent standards of living for millions of consumers. This Fringe
Event will explore the promises, problems and prospects of liberalized markets and their impacts on
consumer welfare.
It will test the rationale for liberalizing energy markets that consumers will benefit from competitive
pricing and enhanced service delivery. Experience in the UK and other markets where liberalization has
occurred has shown that without adequate consumer protection measures, this reasoning is faulty.
Consumers benefit only when markets are competitive in a way that gives primacy to consumer
interest and welfare, and where consumers have sufficient knowledge or support to make decisions and
enough power or support to resolve problems.
Following the lead of the European Commission, the Fringe Event will consider a proposal for a World
Energy Charter. Speakers and commentators will identify the issues for what promises to be a lively
fringe debate and to set the scene for a future campaign to design a better deal for energy consumers
and set out a strategy for achieving it.
energywatch in conjunction with Consumer International
Fringe Events F9, Monday 29 October 2007 (14:00- 16:00), Vibe Hotel – Milsons Room
18th Consumers International World Congress, Sydney, 29 October – 1 November 2007
