Legal challenges of the decisions of energy regulatory authorities in certain EU member states
Abstract
Purpose. Delivering energy policy requires appropriate decisions of competent bodies. Issuing the binding decisions refers to the key powers of energy regulatory authorities. However, there are different approaches to the understanding of the legal nature of such decisions. In particular, in Ukraine there is no single school of thought regarding the legal nature of utilities tariffs decisions. Therefore, it is important to study the experience of foreign countries (e. g., EU member states) on this matter in order to elaborate the future recommendations on the enhancement of Ukrainian legislation. This paper aims at exploring the legal nature of the decisions issued by the energy regulatory authorities in certain EU member states, and at separating the main types and defining the correlation of regulatory, normative and administrative decisions of an energy regulatory authority. In order to achieve the main goal of this research, the following objectives should be reached: 1) to analyse the legal framework for the decision-making of energy regulatory authorities in certain EU member states; 2) to classify the types of decisions of an energy regulatory authority; 3) to define the correlation of regulatory, normative and administrative acts of an energy regulatory authority.
Methods. Comparative legal analysis will be among the main methods of this research while analysing the national legislative approaches to decisions of energy regulatory authorities in certain countries.
Results. Constitutions and other legal acts of certain countries provide the legislative basis of the research. Case law of judicial bodies of analysed countries represents the empirical basis of the paper.
Conclusions. It is concluded that the scope of the decision-making powers of energy regulators in certain countries differs. Various decisions can be challenged in a different way. While the individual decision-making powers in many cases are subject to general administrative procedure acts, legal acts on energy regulatory authorities do not clearly specify the types of their regulatory acts. Considering the principle of legal certainty, it is recommended to separate the regulatory (legislative) and individual (administrative) acts of an energy regulator and to define the specific types of such decisions and their core features in the national legislation.
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