European Commission and EIB further clarify statistical treatment of Energy Performance Contracts

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Commission, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) launched a new Practitioner's Guide on the Statistical Treatment of Energy Performance Contracts on the 8th of May. The Guide explains in detail how these contracts work and gives a clear overview of the potential impact on government finances. This will assist public authorities in taking better-informed decisions when preparing and procuring their EPCs. On the day Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner responsible for Eurostat, said:

I am very pleased to launch a new guide today that clarifies how investments in energy efficient infrastructure should be statistically treated. This will help all stakeholders involved in commissioning, financing and undertaking energy performance contracts. This is a win-win for public authorities and private stakeholders, with a clear understanding of the impact on the national budget.

Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action, Miguel Arias Cañete, added:

Thanks to this guide, it will be easier for schools, hospitals, and other public buildings - which make up more than 10% of the overall EU building stock – to invest for the purpose of improving energy efficiency. Energy efficiency measures are also an important means to combat energy poverty, which this Commission aims at tackling at the roots.

The Guide is also a helpful tool to provide clarity to public and private promoters in the context of the Investment Plan and remove perceived barriers to investment. It follows the Eurostat Guidance note on the revised treatment of Energy Performance Contracts in government accounts, issued in September 2017, and explains its practical application, making use of technical assistance resources from the European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH). More information is available in this press release. The Practitioner's Guide can be found here.