A European Commission report published on 24 June 2026 on the implementation of the 2017 Energy Labelling Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 finds that the label, together with ecodesign measures, reduced average household energy bills by approximately 317 EUR in 2024, with savings projected to reach 480 EUR by 2030. The label alone is estimated to account for 27% of those savings. The report also highlights persistent non-compliance, especially in online sales, and higher-than-expected costs for the EU's product database EPREL.
The report covers progress since the regulation entered into force, noting that eight rescaled or new labels have been introduced since 2019. Priority product groups — washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, electronic displays, and light sources — have carried the updated A-to-G scale since March 2021. A label for smartphones and tablets took effect on 20 June 2025. According to a 2024 Eurobarometer survey, 75% of consumers say the energy label directly influences their purchasing decisions for home appliances.
The EPREL product database now contains around two million models and received 6.6 million visits in 2025. The Commission spent EUR 9.5 million setting up and maintaining the database between 2017 and 2024, with an annual operational budget of EUR 1.9 million in 2024 — costs the report describes as higher than initially anticipated.
Market surveillance remains a weak point. Between 2017 and 2024, the EU provided over EUR 20 million for national enforcement activities. A non-representative risk-based exercise found that 82% of products in physical stores and 97% in online shops had minor or major issues with label display, declaration of conformity, or technical documentation. In mid-2025, the Commission launched infringement proceedings against Portugal and Romania for failing to report any in-depth checks in 2023.
The regulation requires Member States to target incentives at the two highest significantly populated label classes and stipulates that the label shall not apply to products not covered by delegated measures.
Consumers benefit from lower energy bills and clearer purchasing information, but face a risk that non-compliant products undermine trust in the label. Manufacturers and retailers bear compliance costs for label display and database registration, with online sellers particularly exposed to enforcement action. National market surveillance authorities are under pressure to improve inspection rates, especially for e-commerce, and risk infringement proceedings if they fail to report checks. The Commission and EU taxpayers fund the EPREL database at a recurring cost of nearly EUR 2 million per year, a figure that may prompt debate about cost-efficiency.
The report does not propose legislative changes but will inform the Commission's ongoing evaluation of the energy labelling framework. The European Parliament and Council are expected to examine the findings in the coming months.