Shops, offices may shorten opening hours to save energy

The Confederation of Commerce and Services of Portugal (CCP) said on Monday it was willing to discuss the reduction of opening hours of establishments, which are higher than the European average, in response to the request for contributions to the Energy Saving Plan.

“The CCP is available to discuss more structural measures, such as the reduction of extended opening hours in shops and offices,” the confederation said in a statement, stressing that “Portugal has average weekly opening hours much higher than the rest of Europe.”

This position comes in the wake of the Energy Agency (Adene) request for contributions to the drafting of the Energy Saving Plan, which should be known by the end of the month.

“If the measures to be implemented in the near future are not sufficient to fulfil the commitment made by Portugal, this confederation is available to discuss other measures, such as the reduction of opening hours (similar to what has already been decided in other countries),” the CCP said.

The confederation wrote that the issue should be studied, in an “organised and balanced” way, given the lack of manpower and the evolution of electronic operations and automation of points of sale.

As measures to be adopted in the short term, the CCP admitted controlling temperatures in commercial establishments or service buildings and reducing night-time lighting (shop windows and public lighting), as is being adopted in other European countries, but warned of the “need to ensure the reinforcement of security and policing.”

Additionally, the confederation led by João Vieira Lopes defended tax incentives for adopting more energy-efficient solutions, such as LED lamps and photovoltaic panels. It highlighted the support in the transport sector for fleet renewal for vehicles that consume less fuel.

However, CCP recalled that the trade and services sector is recovering from two “atypical” years due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, so any binding measures to reduce energy consumption for economic agents should not contemplate “unattainable goals” or that, to achieve them, it would be necessary to “reduce activity levels to levels that would be unsustainable.”

The confederation also warned about the different realities within the trade and services sector, which should be considered when adopting measures to reduce consumption. It said that “compulsive measures and immediate penalties should be avoided, as the investment made by companies should be gradual and affordable.”