Six Italian companies in the energy sector fined more than 15 million euros: it has been decidedCompetition and Markets Guarantor AuthorityCommonly known as antitrust.
The reason? According to the indictment, the companies “adopted.” aggressive business practicesPreparing consumers to accept increasing changes in electricity and gas prices, contrary to regulatory protectionsArticle 3 of the Aid Decree BIS,
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Which companies are fined by antitrust and why
The Maloney government had put the application for the increase on hold “in the context of serious significant issues with the significant increase in costs in the energy sector”. Failure to follow this rule has led the authority to impose a fine Enel Energia, Eni Plenitude, Esia Energia, Iberdrola Clienti Italia, Dolomiti Energia and Edison Energia,
Enel and Ani respectively were approved 10 million and 5 million euros to happen “Supply prices were unilaterally changed for more than four million consumers, This is all based on “contractual terms that allow companies to decide at their discretion whether and when to change tariffs after the prices of the chosen economic offer expire”. This move also affected many customers Several years after the end of the economic proposalLetters were distributed with which both companies increased the prices, without informing the end consumer of any deadline.
The fine case against Enel Energia has already been recorded in history: This is in fact the first time that the maximum sanction provided for in the Consumer Code has been implemented since the amendment. For its part, Enel defended itself by saying that “it has always acted in full compliance with primary and sector rules as well as contractual rules”. The Company also underlines that the alleged illegitimate unilateral changes to the economic conditions for the supply of electricity and gas relate to the same period. From 10 August 2022 to 30 June 2023When the group was still in the hands of the previous management (Here are the new EU rules and what the changes mean for Italian companies,
What other companies have done
Asia and Dolomiti were fined respectively 560 thousand euros and 50 thousand euros, Both raised prices well before the deadline and, in the case of Acea, even unilateral change In violation of the new rules. Both Acea and Dolomiti believed that unilateral price change communications sent before the new restrictions came into force would be finalized only 10 days after they were sent. so Without complying with the 90 day notice period ,Competition Bill: From trade to antitrust, what’s new,
In return, Iberdrola Clienti Italia received a fine 25 mil euroregarding misconduct From May to October 2022, During this period, the Group sent communications ordering unilateral contractual termination “due to the extreme hardship that would arise in the event of failure to accept”. New supply contract with worsening economic situation, Conduct that does not comply with Article 3 of the Aid Decree BIS pressure on consumers Accepting unilateral changes to raise prices.
In the end, Edison was charged the statutory minimum, i.e. a fine. 5 thousand euros, to implement the price increase before the tariff under the contract expires. The antitrust decision to impose minimum clearance depended on facts provided by the company Refreshments for your customersWhich were also less in number compared to other cases.