Both consumers and suppliers in the energy efficiency sector favour a remain vote in the upcoming EU referendum, according to a new survey which suggested a series of possible consequences to leaving Europe.
The report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance and EEVS asked members of the energy management sector if a Brexit outcome was in the best interests of the industry. The majority of consumers (64%) sided with remain, while a higher proportion of UK suppliers (79%) agreed.
The survey also found that 14 non-UK based firms also took this view, with none claiming an exit would be beneficial to the sector.
Comments left by consumers in the energy management sector included claims that remaining in the EU would provide “access to a bigger pool of suppliers especially in energy, and being part of a bigger market makes it more affordable to take action, plus being subject to EU legislation on energy savings drives [the sector] forward.”
There were also concerns that removal of EU influence would leave the energy efficiency market reliant on UK government policy, which some claimed would disappear, “removing the business case for many companies.”
Energy prices emerged as a significant concern for both suppliers and consumers, with 57% and 42% respectively believing costs would increase outside of the European Union.
A number of consumers (40%) also believe the cost of procuring energy saving measures would increase in the event of Brexit.
Both suppliers and consumers were broadly positive about the impact of EU policy initiatives on the UK’s uptake of commercial sector energy efficiency initiatives. Policy drives led by the European Commission, like the use the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), were thought to have increased energy efficiency uptake.
Ian Jeffries, Director at EEVS, said: “From this research we see that the UK energy management sector has planted itself firmly in the ‘remain’ camp on the Brexit debate.
“As well as an expectation that ‘leave’ would drive up the capital cost of energy saving technologies for consumers and lead to higher energy prices for all, both suppliers and consumers were fearful that the UK government’s poor record on energy efficiency would see well-established and popular EU policies that support energy efficiency being scrapped to the detriment of the sector.
“With less than 7% of respondents supportive of a UK exit from the EU – and with political and economic uncertainties already reported to be holding back investment in energy efficiency schemes – from this research the energy management industry’s stance on Brexit is an overwhelming ‘remain’.”
