Institutional Capacity of National Consumer Protection Systems in the Energy Sector of the EU-27: A Composite Index and Comparative Analysis

This dataset provides a harmonized and operationalized measurement framework for assessing the institutional capacity of national consumer protection systems in the energy sector across the EU-27. It introduces a multidimensional composite index designed to capture both de jure institutional architecture and de facto functional performance of regulatory and redress mechanisms. The conceptual framework builds on institutional governance theory and regulatory capacity literature, conceptualizing institutional capacity as the ability of national systems to ensure effective consumer protection, accessible dispute resolution, regulatory oversight, and enforcement credibility within liberalized energy markets. The dataset contains: A structured codebook with operational definitions of all indicators Component-level scores (institutional design, independence, ADR integration, enforcement mechanisms, accessibility, transparency) Aggregated sub-indexes and overall composite index scores Weighting scheme and normalization procedures Country-level profiles for all EU-27 Member States Documentation of primary data sources (ACER, CEER, National Regulatory Authorities, statutory frameworks, ADR reports) Replication-ready files for statistical analysis (including cluster analysis and QCA inputs) Methodologically, the index construction relies on standardized indicator coding, normalization, and weighted aggregation. Robustness checks include alternative weighting scenarios and sensitivity analysis. The dataset enables cross-country comparison, typological classification of institutional models, and empirical testing of institutional design hypotheses. The dataset is suitable for research in public administration, regulatory governance, energy policy, consumer protection, and comparative institutional analysis. It is particularly relevant for studies examining the relationship between institutional architecture and dispute resolution effectiveness in network industries.