#Bornova2016 – Remunicipalising energy services: why and how?

Over the last 15 years, 235 cities in 37 countries have brought water services back under public control benefiting 100 million people.

Paris, Naples, Berlin, Budapest… the list of European cities running their own water system is getting longer and longer. This may be a model for other services: how about energy, an equally precious natural resource and essential service? Who owns it and who benefits from it most? The movement towards public ownership of urban services is a growing political trend, which reflects the desire to strengthen energy democracy and the resilience of a territory.

It is not an easy task to make the transition from a private to a city-run system. The circumstances leading to this move can vary greatly, be it dissatisfaction with the private services, new political priorities of the city council or pressure from civil society.

Establishing a municipal energy company is, in many countries, a pioneering step along a road full of challenges and controversies.

A session will be dedicated to the topic at Energy Cities’ Annual Conference to be held on 1-3 June in Bornova. What advantages does it bring to transition to a public service scheme? In which places is a private management more appropriate? 
Speakers from the cities of Naples, Paris and Bornova, and from the UK campaign “Switched On London” will share their experience with the participants.

You can still register to the conference! Registration is open until 15 May. bornova2016.energy-cities.eu