Montseart and Del Castillo spotlight the fallout from the massive April 28 blackout that echoed across the Iberian Peninsula, stirring alarm among consumers—especially small and medium enterprises, industries, and households who faced disruption and material losses. Their parliamentary question digs into the thorny issue of compensation, pressing whether the European Commission will ensure network operators are held accountable when failures hit consumers hard.
This query was submitted on June 5, 2025, addressing the European Commission and referencing internal parliamentary frameworks, notably Article 122 of the Parliament's Rules of Procedure. Montserrat and Del Castillo belong to the PPE group and seek clarity on consumer rights enforcement following the blackout attributed to Red Eléctrica’s network management.
The Commission’s reply clarifies that Article 122 concerns foreign and security policy, not consumer protection in electricity services. However, it points to existing EU electricity legislation, including Directive 2019/944 and related regulations that mandate service quality and dispute resolution. The Commission confirms ongoing investigations involving Spanish authorities and an expert panel, with a final report and recommendations expected shortly.
Looking forward, the Commission promises to consider lessons from the blackout and will evaluate the protection of critical and vulnerable customers in the 2026 revision of the energy security framework. This signals potential policy shifts towards stronger consumer safeguards but without immediate new compensation mechanisms.
consumers and SMEs hope for heightened protection and compensation eligibility; network operators face scrutiny but no new liabilities yet; national authorities are tasked with reporting and oversight; EU regulatory bodies will likely weigh in during energy framework updates. The Commission’s forthcoming detailed report and revisions will be key to shaping how far consumer rights will be enhanced in EU electricity markets.