Energy agencies – Activities
What do local and regional energy agencies (LAREAs) do?
Local and regional players, whether energy producers or consumers, equipment suppliers or its users, all of them can find a range of services at their local or regional energy agency. These services are explained in the table below.
To view a table outlining what local and regional energy agencies do, please click here 
Energy agencies support local development by acting as an intermediary between the local/regional authority and local/regional players in the energy market. A local authority can expect wide-ranging advice on all aspects of energy, as well as technical assistance in the design of energy projects and the distribution of public information on these topics from its LAREA.
From a European perspective, LAREAs also:
- Act as a contact point for relations with European networks and institutions as well as an intermediary to local, regional and national players
- Help to establish a longer term positive impact to the local economy by changing users' behaviour, creating stable local jobs, and attracting investments
- Contribute to the transfer of know-how and best practices from all over Europe to the local level
- Contribute to achieving the EU 2020 energy targets at local level
You can find more examples in the Resources section.
Main sectors of activities:
- Rational Use of Energy and RES in Housing / buildings in the public and private sector
- Performance of SMEs in the energy related fields
- Local/regional planning and urban infrastructure development
- Sustainable transport
- Development of regional energy efficient systems using local and renewable sources
Key factors for success:
- Autonomy: Each Agency is to be a neutral, independent, autonomous body, with its own permanent staff and budget, operating under the aegis of the local and regional authorities
- Partnership: Each Agency involves all local stakeholders in the energy field
- Long-term Commitment: The long-term political and financial commitment of the local/regional authority to the Agency and its activities
- Motivation: Each Agency team is both skilled and highly motivated in terms of energy management, renewable energy and the environment
- Communication: Each Agency disseminates the results of its activities as widely as possible
Further information on the activities of energy agencies:
