The EU-funded programme, INOGATE, in cooperation with the Support Group for Ukraine of the European Commission (SGUA) held its first Energy Policy Talk at the Hotel Kyiv, bringing together major players in the energy field to discuss short and long-term energy efficiency measures to address the needs of the vulnerable. The event was based on elements resulting from the Roundtable held in the Rada on 15 June 2015 on how to support vulnerable consumers through energy efficiency.
This intensive half-day event  brought together representatives of the Ukrainian Parliament, the EU Delegation, the SGUA, international  agencies, NGOs and users, providers and suppliers of energy, and other relevant stakeholders.

Main final recommendations addressed to:

• Empower the coordination among Ministries and agencies, responsible in legislation and regulation
• Introduction of metering and consumption-based billing seems to be a top priority
• Modernization of method, size and intermediary for the management of the monetized  subsidies
• Determination of acceptable delay in transferring the subsidies and privileges to Home Association
• Provide high compensation rate for thermomodernisation  for vulnerable groups
• Establish Information campaigns to raise awareness the consumers on possible options for  installation of free gas meters needed.
• Setting a Fund for support of the energy efficiency in residential sector is needed.
• Extension of program supporting Energy Efficiency Support program, ran by the National Energy Efficiency State Agency

Future Energy Policy Talks will take place between November 2015 and March 2016 discussing tariff reform, energy efficiency in a liberalised market, third party access to the electricity network, public service obligations and consumer protection, unbundling of transmission and distributions systems, the promotion of renewable energy and how investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy can be stimulated.