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

替代性纠纷解决（ADR）是否会导致更容易获得司法公正？这个项目将解决这个问题。具体而言，它研究ADR是否为欧洲能源市场中的弱势消费者提供了诉诸司法的机会。这个位置是理想的研究。消费者纠纷经常诉诸替代性纠纷解决办法：2008年，欧洲有530，000起案件提交替代性纠纷解决办法。然而，只有43%的消费者表示ADR易于使用。在这方面，有些人质疑ADR是否满足消费者的需求。与此同时，关于诉诸司法的辩论已从侧重于人口群体（如穷人）转向更广泛地侧重于脆弱性。这个更具挑战性的概念是本研究的重点。有令人信服的理由将重点放在能源部门。第一，在这一部门，欧洲联盟授权采用替代性纠纷解决办法，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年英国有890万个问题。第三，损害的后果是严重的，10.8%的欧盟人口生活在燃料贫困中。第四，能源消费者特别容易受到伤害。第五，发展成果评估是决策者设法解决脆弱性问题的一种明确手段。因此，这一部门是司法救助、替代性纠纷解决和脆弱性相互交织的重要场所。这项研究建立在现有的学术基础上。其主要贡献将是关于替代性纠纷解决办法在诉诸司法方面的作用的文献。ADR的支持者说，它更便宜，更快，更容易获得。批评者质疑它的可及性，以及它是否提供了获得和解的途径，而不是正义。该研究还将通过探索ADR设计如何影响弱势群体诉诸司法的机会，为有关争议解决系统设计（DSD）和消费者脆弱性的文献做出贡献。此外，研究将直接建立在申请人最近关于ADR的工作基础上：Creutzfeldt的ESRC奖学金和Creutzfeldt和Gill的ESRC影响加速奖。研究将使用混合方法，并调查六个欧洲国家，这些国家在政策和实践方面存在重大差异。这一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可及性。申请人最近委托进行了能源ADR计划的研究：牢固的信任与合作关系将确保实现影响。如果成功，研究的最终成果将是加强能源市场内外弱势消费者诉诸司法的机会。

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.