A European Commission staff working document published on 17 July 2026 summarises the results of a public consultation on the Electrification Action Plan, showing strong stakeholder support for electrification but widespread calls for more public financing, faster permitting, and better grid capacity. The synopsis report, accompanying the Electrification Action Plan communication, draws on 320 responses to an open public consultation and 177 responses to a call for evidence, making it one of the largest stakeholder feedback exercises on EU energy policy in recent years.
According to the report, stakeholders identified decarbonisation (89 responses) and competitiveness (88) as the top objectives for the action plan, followed by energy security (52). The main cross-sector barrier cited was high upfront transition costs (205 responses), with insufficient grid capacity (141), complex permitting (119), and high grid connection costs (113) also frequently mentioned. When asked about priority EU policy options, respondents most often selected additional public financing (182) and effective implementation of the current EU regulatory framework (180).
On general policy design, the most popular measures were accelerating permitting (173) and revising energy taxation to favour electricity (149). For flexibility, stakeholders favoured facilitating grid connection for flexibility assets (195), promoting digitalisation and data sharing (191), and accelerating storage permitting (186). In the transport sector, the main barriers were lack of financial incentives (73), behavioural resistance (70), and grid connection difficulties (66). For heating and cooling, high investment costs were the top barrier across all building types (157 for dwellings, 150 for apartments, 147 for non-residential), while protection of vulnerable consumers (119) was the most selected measure for space heating.
The call for evidence responses showed broad support for electrification but diverging views on gas-based solutions, with consistent calls for faster permitting, regulatory coherence, and enhanced financing. The report does not propose new legislation but will inform the Commission's policy development on electrification. The next steps include the adoption of the Electrification Action Plan, expected later in 2026, which will be debated by the European Parliament and the Council.
The findings highlight a trade-off between accelerating electrification and managing costs for consumers and businesses. Additional public financing would benefit households and small firms facing high upfront costs, but would require EU or national budget reallocations, potentially increasing the tax burden. Faster permitting and grid upgrades would help renewable energy developers and grid operators, but may face opposition from local communities and environmental groups concerned about land use and biodiversity. The call for regulatory coherence suggests that businesses seek predictable rules, while diverging views on gas-based solutions indicate a split between those favouring a rapid phase-out and those advocating a technology-neutral approach.