Transposition of Directive 2012/27/EU into Croatian legislation

25.2.2016

Question for written answer P-001660-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Davor Škrlec (Verts/ALE)

Under the amended Heat Energy Market Act (NN/95/15) the Croatian Government has compelled ALL flat owners in multi-apartment buildings to install individual meters or local consumption allocators (Article 33). New penalties (established under Article 50) will apply if consumers fail to install the above devices within the time limits specified in the directive and the act. This runs counter both to the EEO scheme methodology for Croatia, as provided for in Article 7 of the directive and published on Commission web pages, and to EU legislative practice (as reflected in, for example, the Danish, Irish, and British laws).

1. Is the right of consumer protection undermined when consumers in multi-apartment buildings connected to a district heating system are being forced on pain of fines to install meters/recording devices even though there has been no prior energy audit and alternative cost-effective methods have not been applied?2. Do the penalties provided for in Article 13 of the directive apply to citizens/final customers even when no prior technical and cost analysis has been carried out to determine the feasibility of installing meters/recording devices and no alternative cost-effective methods have been offered?3. Has the Croatian Government informed the Commission of the penalties for citizens laid down in Article 50 of the act, as it is required to do under Article 13 of the directive if penalties enter into force after 5 June 2014?