The institution: role and organisation

ROLE

As a public independent authority, the mission of the national energy ombudsman is to offer amicable solutions when disputes occur with the companies of the energy sector, as well as to inform the energy consumers about their rights.

The national energy ombudsman is an independent public authority created by the  law n°2006-1537 of December 7 2006 relative to the energy sector. It falls within the scope of law n°2017-55 of January 20 2017 governing independent administrative authorities and independent public authorities.

The ombudsman is endowed legal personality and financial autonomy. Its financing is carried out by the State, and its budget, which is part of the finance act, is adopted by the ministers in charge of economy, energy and consumption.

The scope of its competence and how it may intervene are set by the articles L. 122-1 to L. 122-5 and articles R. 122-1 to R. 122-12 of the energy code.

The national energy ombudsman is a “public ombudsman” within the meaning of article L. 611-1 the consumer code.

The energy ombudsman carries out its mediation mission to solve consumer disputes following the conditions set by the articles of the consumer code and according to the terms defined by the articles R. 122-1 et seq. of the energy code. When the consumer is a private individual, additional rules apply, set out by articles L. 612-1 et seq. and R. 612-1 et seq. of the consumer code.

ORGANISATION

THE NATIONAL ENERGY OMBUDSMAN

With the interministerial decree of November 25 2019, published in the Official Journal of November 07 2025, Bernard DOROSZCZUK has been appointed national energy ombudsman for six years. His remit cannot be annulled (Official Journal of 16 November 2025).

Bernard DOROSZCZUK

An honorary General Mining Engineer and Associate Member of the General Council for the Economy, Bernard DOROSZCZUK has held senior positions in the fields of energy, safety, environmental protection, and certification. He served as Director General of the French Accreditation Committee (Cofrac), where he was responsible in particular for ensuring the competence and impartiality of bodies certifying the conformity of products and services. From 2018 to 2024, he chaired the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) and contributed to strengthening rigor, transparency, and dialogue among institutions, economic and civil society stakeholders, and citizens.

DEPARTMENTS

Managing Director: Frédérique FERIAUD

The institution is composed of three departments: Mediation, Information & Communication and Administration & Finance.

Head of the Mediation department: Catherine LEFRANÇOIS-RIVIERE

Head of the Information & Communication department: Caroline KELLER

Head of the Administration & Finance department: Béatrice GAUDRAY

All personnel of the national energy ombudsman share a common goal: to ensure that all consumers receive a personalised and adapted response to their issues, while abiding by values of independency, transparency and fairness.

CHARTER OF ETHICS

In compliance with article 13 of law n°2017-55 of January 20 2017, as well as article R. 122-4 of the energy code, the national energy ombudsman has devised a charter that sets out the ethical rules applicable to the institution and to its employees.

Our Charter of ethics, in PDF and in French, can be read here 

Additionally, the ombudsman has submitted a statement of interests in 2014.

Learn more about mediation in France and in Europe

In France, the Commission for the evaluation and monitoring of consumer mediation aims at evaluating the activity of consumer ombudsmen and at monitoring how they comply with the terms of the Consumer code pertaining to the mediation of consumption disputes.

Since the national energy ombudsman has been approved by the evaluation commission, it is now referenced on the consumer mediation website: www.mediation-conso.fr

It is also referenced on the European commission website dedicated to consumption mediation at: https://consumer-redress.ec.europa.eu/index_en

Furthermore, the European Centre of Consumption has set up a website in French dedicated to consumption mediation, which the ombudsman encourages you to visit : European Centre of Consumption Website