Energy Advice
Energy advice increases awareness of energy efficiency and renewable energy. The target groups of energy advice are consumers, municipalities, and companies. Energy advice provides impartial information on ways to improve energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy. Energy advice is one means of promoting emissions reductions, as an energy adviser helps stakeholders take steps forward towards improved energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energy.
Energy advice is delivered through various advisory and communication methods, such as personal guidance, seminars, meetings, campaigns, and the dissemination of good examples and best practices. The revised Energy Efficiency Directive requires that advice be targeted in particular at vulnerable groups.
Energy advice has been provided in Finland since the 1960s by electricity utilities. At that time, consumers needed assistance with the purchase and use of household appliances. The energy crisis of the 1970s made energy saving familiar to Finns, for example through lowering indoor temperatures and restricting vehicle speeds and lighting. In 2009, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy began developing consumer energy advice at the national level. The objective was to provide consumers with clearly impartial and timely information on energy, which continues to serve as a guiding principle for energy advice today.
Energy advice is implemented both by Motiva Oy, the state-owned company promoting sustainable development, and by regional energy advisers operating in the regions. In Finland, energy advice is funded and guided by the Energy Authority (Energiavirasto). In addition, the Energy Authority leads the national Strategic Group for Consumer Energy Advice. In this group, different administrative sectors and stakeholders share information on energy advice. By decision of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, this group also acts as an expert network on energy poverty (Energy Efficiency Directive, Article 24).
Regional energy advice brings energy advisers closer to target groups in each region.
Since 2018, the Energy Authority has funded and coordinated regional energy advice. Regional energy advice was launched in spring 2018 through pilot projects in 12 regions. The Energy Authority has carried out procurement processes for regional energy advice in 2019 and 2023. Regional energy advice is implemented in all regions of mainland Finland.
The objective of regional energy advice is to provide energy advice to consumers, municipalities, and companies, and to promote the implementation of energy audits in municipalities and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as to encourage participation in and implementation of energy efficiency agreements in the public sector. Energy audits and energy efficiency agreements are voluntary instruments chosen by the Finnish state for the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). Energy advice does not provide information on individual equipment choices, nor does it offer detailed planning or consultancy services.
See the contact details of the advisers here (in Finnish).
Energy poverty refers to the inability to meet essential heating and electricity costs. Its root causes are considered to be low income, an unreasonably high share of energy costs in household expenditure, and poor energy efficiency of buildings and appliances.
The revised Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) requires EU Member States to take action to reduce energy poverty. Among other things, Member States must implement energy-saving measures among people suffering from energy poverty, vulnerable customers, people living in low-income households, and residents of social housing.
In Finland, energy poverty has not been considered a significant societal problem that would need to be addressed separately from the social security system and other policy measures. In Finland, the risk of energy poverty is reduced by the energy efficiency of the building stock, a well-developed energy system, and one of the most advanced and comprehensive social security systems in the world.
Gaia Consulting has examined the phenomenon of energy poverty in Finland and how it can best be prevented.
Energy Poverty in Finland, Gaia Consulting Oy
The Strategic Group for Consumer Energy Advice coordinated by the Energy Authority also serves as an expert network on energy poverty (Energy Efficiency Directive, Article 24) by decision of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.