Regional Energy Councelling

By project ZEROCO2

Published on 31 August 2022

Finland

About this good practice

In the past, many people were confused, who gives advice and what, and where can I get unbiased information. In 2019, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment started to develop consumer energy advice at national level. The aim was to provide consumers with clear, objective, and timely information on energy. This also serves as a guideline for regional energy advice. Regional energy counselling increases awareness of energy efficiency and renewable energy. The target groups of regional energy counselling are consumers, municipalities, and SMEs. An energy advisor provides unbiased information about the means available to improve energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. Regional energy counselling brings the energy advisor closer to the target groups in all provinces. The energy advice service is one way of promoting emission reductions: the energy advisor assists the consumer, municipality, or SME in taking one step towards increased energy efficiency and use of renewable energy. Energy counselling is provided through a variety of advice and communication channels, such as personal advice, seminars, meetings, and campaigns. Energy counselling aims at making consumers, SMEs and municipalities interested in energy efficiency and renewable energy with the help of good examples and operating methods. The main stakeholders are the Finnish Energy Authority and the Energy Advisers in each region in Finland. Main beneficiaries are consumers, SMEs, and municipalities.

Resources needed

The total funding for regional energy advisors is around €2.8 million over five years from 2018 to 2023. There are 18 regions in Finland, and each region has set budget and a named energy adviser. Some energy advisor organisations cover two or 3 regions.

Evidence of success

The effectiveness of the energy counselling is assessed through follow-up surveys every 6 months. The follow-up is done collectively for the whole of Finland. Here is an extract from one of these surveys: In early 2021, there have been 465 consultations recorded over a 5-month period, with a survey on the implementation of measures. Impact of the measures has been 2900 MWh/year (energy savings and renewable energy). These measures hold the potential to reduce emissions by 900 tonnes of CO2/year.

Potential for learning or transfer

Providing consumer energy advice is not only done in Finland but in other EU countries. The reason we are promoting this as a good example, is that the energy advice is provided for consumers, municipalities, and SMEs. Also, the regional energy counselling provided in Finland has created a network of energy advisors that support one another, leading to better quality of advice provided. Also, it is possible to learn from the structure of the regional energy counselling and see what essential parts are needed to create such a system in another place. Finland has been running regional energy advice for three years and other countries can develop their own, modified, version of this good practice. It is possible to share experiences on three levels, the energy advisor, the coordinator, and the financer. The main task of regional energy advice is to bring resources close to the people. Faces that are easy to ask and easy to approach. Visits to businesses, municipalities, and homes .