De forskellige prisfastsættelsesmåder i medlems staterne, de forskellige afgiftssystemer, den forskellige vægt, der tillægges energien i sådanne ledesnore som leveomkostningsindekser, og de forskellige forhold mellem de anvendte energiformer har skabt handelsfordrejninger mellem medlemsstaterne og forbrugsfordrejninger i dem.
The different ways in which prices are fixed in each Member State, the different systems of taxation, the different weighting given to energy in such devices as cost-of-living indices, and the different relationship between the various forms of energy used have created trade distortions between Member States and distortions of consumption within them.