Future-proofing electricity bills in the EU

Background

In July 2026, the European Commission unveiled its Electrification Action Plan and a legislative proposal to future-proof electricity bills in the EU, by lowering system costs and fostering electrification and digitalisation. The goal is to make Europe the world's first "electro-powered" continent and increase electrification from today's 23% of energy use to 46% by 2040.

The proposals put forward a number of measures meant to help reduce the price gap between electricity and fossil energy costs and incentivise the uptake of cleaner, electricity-based technologies such as heat pumps and electric vehicles and batteries.

More specifically, these measures include:

• future-proofing electricity bills in the EU by empowering EU countries to reduce network charges for certain consumer groups and taxes for energy-intensive businesses;
• encouraging faster deployment of smart meters, which will make it easier for consumers to save on their energy bills;
• speeding up the deployment of European electricity grids through the grids package;
• accelerating the uptake of innovative electrification solutions.

Key points

The EESC:

• recommends a holistic approach to the electricity system, supported by consolidated, reliable and near-real-time data to underpin overall efficiency;
• calls for the right signals to be sent to the markets as regards grid access charges, based on these principles:
  • reflect the costs of grid operators as accurately as possible; 
  • introduce hourly, seasonal or dynamic tariffs, based on a local pricing;
  • set the grid connection prices on the basis of the costs, while ensuring alternative mechanisms for energy access, especially for isolated and vulnerable households; promote local pricing of grid connections;
• suggests updating the management of grid connection queues, by:
  • moving from the current ‘first come, first served’ principle to a more efficient approach, such as the ‘first ready, first served’ or ‘contribution to the energy strategy’ principle;
  • making grid capacity reservations subject to financial constraints or cancellation clauses; except where delays result from permitting, public-infrastructure or State-aid procedures;
  • introducing new prioritisation rules for grid connections, in line with the electrification goal.

Additional information

Section: Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN)
Opinion number: TEN/892
Opinion type: Mandatory
Rapporteur: Christophe Béguinet (Group II - France)
Date of adoption by section: 6 October 2026
Result of the vote: 42 in favour, 0 against, 1 abstention
Date of adoption in plenary: 21-22 October 2026
Result of the vote: XXX in favour, X against, X abstentions

Contact

Marco Pezzani
Press Officer
Tel.: +32 2 546 9793 | Mob: +32 470 881 903
E-mail: marco.pezzani@eesc.europa.eu 

Giorgia Bordignon
Administrator
Tel.: +32 546 8535
E-mail: giorgiaandrea.bordignon@eesc.europa.eu