Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a key role in advancing citizen energy by advocating for fair policies, supporting citizen engagement, and bridging gaps between communities, public authorities, and technical actors. NGOs often work closely with citizens, vulnerable groups, and local organisations, making them well placed to raise awareness, build capacity, and ensure that energy projects reflect social and environmental priorities.
In the context of citizen energy, NGOs frequently act as facilitators, intermediaries, and watchdogs, helping citizens understand their rights, supporting participatory processes, and contributing to inclusive and transparent energy transitions.
Understand your role and context
EU energy and climate frameworks recognise the importance of civil society organisations in enabling citizen participation, social inclusion, and public acceptance of the energy transition. NGOs may not typically develop energy assets themselves, but they play a crucial role in shaping enabling conditions and supporting implementation on the ground.
NGOs often engage in citizen energy through:
- Awareness and capacity building: Informing citizens about their rights, opportunities, and pathways to engage in energy communities, self-consumption, or renovation
- Facilitation and mediation: Supporting dialogue between citizens, municipalities, energy communities, and market actors
- Advocacy and policy feedback: Representing citizen perspectives and social concerns in local, national, and EU-level energy debates.
Get practical guidance
- The European Climate Pact offers the opportunity for you as an NGO to connect with citizens, local initiatives, and peer organisations working on climate and energy action. Working with the pact will allow you to join annual events in Brussels, take part in climate action events, and stay up to date with the latest developments. Getting in contact with country-specific coordinators can help you engage with your country’s climate-conscious citizens.
- Collaborate with national and regional NGO platforms, civil society networks, and thematic alliances focused on energy, climate, social justice, or consumer protection.
Meet Daniel: A consumer rights NGO advisor working on energy issues
- Meet Daniel: A consumer rights NGO advisor working on energy issues
- Who Daniel is: Advisor at a consumer rights NGO focusing on energy markets and household protection
- His situation: Supports consumers facing high energy bills, unfair practices, or lack of access to clear information
- What he’s trying to figure out: How citizen energy can strengthen consumer choice, fairness, and affordability
- What makes it difficult: Complex rules, uneven national implementation, and low awareness of consumer rights
- In his words: “Consumers need clear rights and practical options if they are to engage in the energy transition.”
Daniel asks:
How can citizen energy strengthen consumer choice and protection?
- Learn about EU rules for energy consumers and prosumers, including self-consumption, energy sharing, and energy consumer protection introduced under the Clean Energy Package. National frameworks build on these rules, so households can check how they apply in their country.
- Participation in energy communities can increase transparency and local accountability, giving consumers more control over how energy is produced, priced, and governed.
- In addition, the European Commission recently released the Communication on the Citizens Energy Package - Energy - European Commission. Learn more about their plans to implement actions supporting 4 key pillars, including: lowering energy bills for households, protecting and empowering consumers, tackling energy poverty and implementing existing EU laws effectively.
How can NGOs help consumers understand and use these rights?
- Consumer NGOs can play a key role in translating complex rules into clear guidance, explaining what citizens are entitled to, what options exist nationally, and what protections apply when engaging in citizen energy.
- Awareness-raising campaigns, guidance materials, and local information sessions help consumers move from abstract rights to informed decisions.
- Partnering with energy agencies, community organisations, and advice services helps connect consumers with trusted, practical support. Check out this map of energy agencies that you can contact for your country.
How can NGOs engage with citizen energy without becoming technical experts?
- NGOs do not need to design or operate energy assets. Their added value lies in consumer advocacy, facilitation, and safeguarding rights throughout project development and participation.
- Working alongside energy communities, municipalities, and technical partners allows NGOs to focus on fairness, transparency, and consumer empowerment.
- Check out the CEAH Knowledge Hub for a range of useful information like guidance documents, best practice reports, on-site citizen energy missions, maps of citizen energy projects, national consumer laws and more.