Access to Justice, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and consumer vulnerability in the European energy sector

欧洲能源行业的司法救助、替代性争议解决 (ADR) 和消费者脆弱性

基本信息

批准号：
ES/P010237/1
负责人：
Naomi Creutzfeldt
金额：
$ 46.49万
依托单位：
University of Westminster
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2017
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2017 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ES%2FP010237%2F1
关键词：
Access Justice Alternative Dispute Resolution

项目摘要

Is Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) resulting in more accessible justice? This project will address this question. Specifically, it examines whether ADR provides access to justice for vulnerable consumers in the European energy market. This location is ideal for the research. Consumer disputes are frequently subject to ADR: in 2008, 530,000 cases were referred to ADR in Europe. And yet, only 43% of consumers report that ADR is easy to use. In this context, some have questioned whether ADR is meeting consumer needs. At the same time, debate about access to justice has shifted from a focus on demographic groups (e.g. the poor) to a broader focus on vulnerability. This more challenging concept is the focus of this research.There are compelling reasons for focusing on the energy sector. First, it is a sector where the European Union has mandated ADR as a means of promoting access to justice. Second, energy consumers are particularly prone to detriment, with 8.9 million problems experienced in the UK in 2015. Third, the consequences of detriment are severe, with 10.8% of the EU's population living in fuel poverty. Fourth, energy consumers are particularly at risk of vulnerability. Fifth, ADR is an explicit means through which policymakers are seeking to tackle vulnerability. This sector is, therefore, an important site at which access to justice, ADR, and vulnerability intersect. The research builds on existing scholarship. Its major contribution will be to literature on the role of ADR in access to justice. ADR proponents say it is cheaper, quicker, more accessible. Critics question how accessible it is, and whether it provides access to settlement, not justice. The research will also contribute to literature on dispute system design (DSD) and consumer vulnerability, by exploring how ADR design affects access to justice for the vulnerable. In addition, the research will build directly on the applicants' recent work on ADR: Creutzfeldt's ESRC Fellowship and Creutzfeldt and Gill's ESRC Impact Acceleration Award.The research will use mixed methods and investigate six European countries with significant national variations in policy and practice. This design has been developed in partnership with the National Energy Ombudsman Network, which has guaranteed access for research. The applicants have recently conducted commissioned research for energy ADR schemes: strong relationships of trust and cooperation will ensure impact is achieved. If successful, the ultimate outcome of the research will be an enhancement in access to justice for vulnerable consumers in the energy market and beyond.

替代性争议解决 (ADR) 能否带来更便捷的司法公正？这个项目将解决这个问题。具体来说，它审查了 ADR 是否为欧洲能源市场上的弱势消费者提供了诉诸司法的机会。这个位置非常适合研究。消费者纠纷经常受到 ADR 的管辖：2008 年，欧洲有 530,000 起案件被提交 ADR。然而，只有 43% 的消费者表示 ADR 易于使用。在此背景下，一些人质疑 ADR 是否满足了消费者的需求。与此同时，关于诉诸司法的辩论已从关注人口群体（例如穷人）转向更广泛地关注脆弱性。这个更具挑战性的概念是本研究的重点。关注能源领域有令人信服的理由。首先，欧盟已在该领域强制规定 ADR 作为促进诉诸司法的手段。其次，能源消费者特别容易受到损害，2015年英国就有890万起问题。第三，损害的后果很严重，10.8%的欧盟人口生活在燃料匮乏之中。第四，能源消费者尤其面临脆弱性风险。第五，ADR 是政策制定者寻求解决脆弱性问题的明确手段。因此，该部门是诉诸司法、替代性纠纷解决和脆弱性交叉的重要场所。该研究建立在现有奖学金的基础上。它的主要贡献将是关于 ADR 在诉诸司法方面的作用的文献。 ADR 支持者表示，它更便宜、更快捷、更容易获得。批评者质疑它的可及性，以及它是否提供了解决问题的途径，而不是伸张正义的途径。该研究还将通过探索 ADR 设计如何影响弱势群体诉诸司法，为有关争议系统设计 (DSD) 和消费者脆弱性的文献做出贡献。此外，该研究将直接建立在申请人最近在 ADR 方面的工作上：Creutzfeldt 的 ESRC 奖学金以及 Creutzfeldt 和 Gill 的 ESRC 影响加速奖。该研究将使用混合方法，并调查在政策和实践方面存在重大国家差异的六个欧洲国家。该设计是与国家能源监察员网络合作开发的，该网络保证了研究的准入。申请人最近进行了能源 ADR 计划的委托研究：牢固的信任与合作关系将确保实现影响。如果成功，该研究的最终结果将是增强能源市场及其他领域弱势消费者诉诸司法的机会。