The impact of alternative energy sources on consumers

Abstract

In the last 10 years there has been an unprecedented change in the way of energy resources consumption. The scenery of the energy sector has been modified by the unexpected increase of the exploitation of alternative energy sources, by attracting investments in the field of renewable energies and increasing the consumption capacities by the domestic consumers. The avalanche of changes was set off within the process of developing the unconventional resources and technologies for all forms of energy resources. This has contributed to a significant reduction of prices, to a decoupling of economic growth and including the greenhouse gas emissions. Within this process of the energy market development, the consumer is the one who can influence directly or indirectly, the legal nature of the energy consumption ratio obtained from alternative sources. From this point of view, the present scientific approach reflects the main aspects regarding the rights of consumers to have access to energy consumption obtained from renewable sources, the active role they can hold in the market, the ability to see the quality of the producer and their need to benefit of a special protection because they are in a condition of energy vulnerability. JEL: P 37(P 48), L 84.