Municipal energy agencies are important enablers to deploy sustainable energy projects in local communities, namely by providing technical advice on the viability of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures to local governments, citizens and other stakeholders. While companies often try to sell their own products, energy agencies are better placed to provide independent and technology-neutral advice to ensure scarce public funds are well spent.

Under previous MFFs, funding programmes such Intelligent Energy Europe, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe have played an important role in supporting the creation of energy agencies across Europe, namely by supporting Coordination and Support measures. It is important that the future EU budget continues to support these crucial structures.