Press Release: All EU Citizens free to choose their electricity and gas supplier as of 1 July

Since 1 July 2007 all European citizens have been able to freely choose their electricity and gas supplier, as this was the final date for the full opening of the electricity and gas markets in the EU. There are a few exceptions to take account of special circumstances where it is not possible to introduce competition yet, such as the Baltic States and in Member States where gas was introduced only recently, but the basic rule of freedom of choice for every citizen has become established in the EU. The full market opening represents a milestone in the creation of a fully functioning European energy market.