Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity (often governmental) has decided to address issues of energy development including energy production, distribution and consumption. The attributes of energy policy may include legislation, international treaties, incentives to investment, guidelines for energy conservation, taxation and other public policy techniques.

Measures used to produce an energy policy

A national energy policy comprises a set of measures involving that country's laws, treaties and agency directives. The energy policy of a sovereign nation may include one or more of the following measures:

• statement of national policy regarding energy planning, energy generation, transmission and usage
• legislation on commercial energy activities (trading, transport, storage, etc.)
• legislation affecting energy use, such as efficiency standards, emission standards
• instructions for state-owned energy sector assets and organizations
• active participation in, co-ordination of and incentives for mineral fuels exploration (see geological survey) and other energy-related research and development policy command
• fiscal policies related to energy products and services (taxes, exemptions, subsidies ...
• energy security and international policy measures such as:    
• international energy sector treaties and alliances,
• general international trade agreements,
• special relations with energy-rich countries, including military presence and/or domination.

Frequently the dominant issue of energy policy is the risk of supply-demand mismatch (see: energy crisis). Current energy policies also address environmental issues (see: climate change), particularly challenging because of the need