Every year, the Mediator drafts a report on his work, which describes the outcome of the requests received, the assessment of the cases handled and a detailed account of the recommendations made.
“This annual report showcases our impartiality and evidences the transparency of our mediation process vis-à-vis all complainants”, points out Jean-Pierre Hervé.
› Consult the Mediator’s latest 2015 annual report
› Consult annual reports of previous years: 2014 annual report, 2013 annual report, 2012 annual report, 2011 annual report, 2010 annual report, annual report 2009.
The number of mediation cases handled in the ENGIE Group has once again risen: 54% more than in 2014, up from 199 to 306, all markets and business units taken together. 94 % of these cases concern private customers (B2C) in the field of energy. At the same time, the number of requests fell sharply, down from 4,301 in 2014 to 2,588 in 2015.
81% of solutions proposed during mediation cases were accepted by the parties and implemented. Furthermore, mediation is a fairly swift and effective process, given that 68% of cases are concluded in under 60 days and 95% in under 90 days (the legal requirement – the order of 20 August 2015 in France ).
Once again this year, most of the requests received concern customers’ comprehension of energy bills, regularization amounts further to incorrect meter readings or adjustments to meter readings further to meter failures. The mediation department has noted the emergence of complaints about new services. This is more particularly the case for services concerning boilers and renewable energies.
2015 is also the year that saw significant developments in the Mediation regulatory framework. The order of 20 August offered a regulatory framework for consumption mediation by transposing the 2013 European ADR directive (alternative dispute resolution) concerning out-of-court dispute resolution.
On 25 February 2016 ENGIE’s mediation service was approved by the Mediation Assessment and Regulation Commission, the Consumption Mediator and was listed as such on the European Union’s list. A distinction that confirms compliance with all the criteria of independence and efficiency laid down by these new texts. The qualities of ENGIE’s company mediation, inter alia its independence and impartiality, have therefore once again been acknowledged.
After this report was published, the press reacted.
ENERPRESSE – 14/06/16 > Publication of the Engie mediator’s 2015 report
Publication of the Engie mediator’s 2015 report
On 10th June the ENGIE Group’s Mediator Jean-Pierre Hervé submitted his 2015 annual report to Isabelle Kocher, the group’s Chief Executive Officer. He noted a sharp fall in the number of requests (- 40%) “owing to better performance of the customer service”, and a sharp rise in the number of completed mediation cases (50% more than in 2014). “A trend that is accounted for in part by customers’ more exacting standard vis-à-vis their energy provider, against a backdrop of revolution in the sector, with an increasing number of offers and services”, says the press release. The average case processing time was 67 days, in line with the law, which sets a limit of 90 days. Most requests concerned customers’ comprehension of energy bills, but new claims were recorded, relating to new services, in particular those relating to boilers and renewable energies. More than 80% of the opinions delivered during mediation were accepted by the parties and implemented, whereas special cases led the mediator to make 19 recommendations.
Je suis un bloc de texte,
Further to the various disputes he examines, the ENGIE Group’s Mediator makes recommendations to the ENGIE group entities concerned. These recommendations suggest areas for improvement in the handling of customers and their requests, in procedures and in the services offered. These are set out every year in the Mediator’s annual report. The Mediator then works with these entities to ensure his recommendations are followed through.
In 2015, based on the special cases he dealt with in the year, the Mediator made 19 recommendations. They were discussed with the ENGIE Group business units concerned to ensure their implementation, as well as with consumer organizations.
These recommendations are as follows:
Recommendation 3:“Reduce ENEDIS’s (ex-ERDF) response time in the mediation process”
Recommendation 6:“Have the consumer service provide tariff advice for billing complaints”
Recommendation 7:“Explain the line ‘adjusted consumption’ on the bill”
Recommendation 8:“Explain rectified bills”
Recommendation 10:“At consumer service level, adapt the debt absorption plan to customer resources”
Recommendation 11:“Handle energy efficiency certificate premiums at consumer service level”
Recommendation 12:“Promote the renovation passport”
Recommendation 16:“Better contract monitoring for buildings under FideloConso contracts”