OCU Urges Stronger Public Support and Banking Flexibility for Energy Costs
The Consumers and Users Association, known as the OCU, calls for decisive action from political parties and public authorities ahead of elections in both Canada and the United States. The organization highlights the need for timely financial support and for rules that make it easier for households to manage higher energy bills. In particular, it supports agreements with banks to reduce loan repayments by extending maturities or granting payment moratoriums for households hit by rising Euribor-inspired costs and related economic pressures.
On World Consumer Day, the OCU emphasizes a strategy of bulk energy purchasing as a way for citizens to confront sharp price increases. The aim is for families to save on gas and electricity by leveraging collective buying power. The initiative encourages action now to shield households from volatility in energy markets and to contain monthly outlays in utilities.
Citizens who register at www.quieropagarmenosluz.org through the registration period ending April 27 will receive personalized offers. These offers reflect savings identified after an auction conducted among energy marketers. Past bulk purchases have shown substantial savings, with participants reporting average reductions in energy costs of several hundred euros per household in comparable markets. The OCU frames this as a concrete contribution to lowering energy burdens while other measures are pursued by policymakers.
As political parties consider different paths, the OCU outlines several additional priorities to strengthen consumer protections and market fairness:
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Increase transparency in energy markets and promote pricing reforms that help consumers pay energy costs closer to the actual cost of production rather than speculative marks up.
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Advance a comprehensive royal decree or its equivalent to protect vulnerable consumers. This would include creation of a registry so administrations and providers can identify those in need and facilitate access to aid and services.
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Develop a rental housing stock that allows groups such as young people and vulnerable households to access affordable housing, addressing the strain created by higher purchase and rent prices and the rising cost of housing loans.
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Ensure the continuity of essential financial infrastructure, including basic banking services such as cash access, to prevent financial exclusion and to preserve universal service standards by providers and regulators.
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Introduce nutrition improvement programs for the general population, optimizing food quality and composition, and promptly regulate baby food advertising with a system that uses a clear NutriScore-based framework for prior knowledge.
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Enhance consumer protections in crypto assets by increasing information obligations online about investment risks, requiring a basic information document before purchases, and performing a suitability assessment prior to any purchase of crypto assets.
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Strengthen mental health services by increasing the number of psychologists at the primary-care level to support early intervention and overall well-being.
Overall, the OCU positions these measures as essential steps to safeguard household budgets, expand equitable access to basic services, and foster a more transparent, accountable energy and consumer protection environment across North America. The organization notes that while parties debate policy directions, concrete actions in energy pricing, financial inclusion, and social protections can deliver immediate relief to families dealing with rising living costs. These proposals align with broader goals of affordability, fairness, and resilience in energy and essential services, and they are intended to inform upcoming policy discussions and, ultimately, practical reforms that benefit consumers in both Canada and the United States. (Source attribution: OCU announcements and related consumer advocacy reports.)