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EU Sets Energy Market Retail Deregulation Date

11/26/2002

LCG, November 26, 2002-EU Ministers announced that residents will be able to choose electricity suppliers beginning July 2007.

The business energy market will be opened to competition in 2004, and EU leaders have finally agreed to open the market for homeowners in 2007.

France has been the major opponent of liberalization, initially putting off serious comment earlier this year because of elections. France is unwilling to compromise the position of its state energy company Electricite de France and opposed the original, 2005 deregulation date.

The European Union finally came to agreement on Monday after commissioners warned that delays in deregulation could cost as much as 15 billion euros.