The company is sanctioned especially for “abusively exploited” client files from 2004 to 2021.
Le Monde with AFP
The Competition Authority has inflicted Tuesday 22 February a sanction of 300 million euros to EDF and several of its subsidiaries for abuse of dominant position, following a complaint filed by ENGIE, according to a decision announced by the instance .
He was reproached at EDF to have “abusively exploited” from 2004 to 2021 client files, the Group with the Group’s public service mission, to offer consumers market offers. gas, electricity and other energy services.
EDF reacted by “taking note of the decision”. He had already incorporated into his accounts 2021 the amount of the penalty, which was negotiated.
A negotiated pecuniary sanction
Since 2007, individuals can subscribe to EDF’s regulated sales price (for electricity) with prices set by public authorities, but also to market offers at free prices, sold too well by the French historical operator only by dozens of competitors: ENGIE, ENI, Total, Vattenfall, etc.
In addition to the use of eligible client files, EDF is sanctioned for also using commercial infrastructure related to regulatory contract management, to develop the marketing of its market offers, highlights the authority competition.
The objective was to “convert a large part of its customers at the hinge of the end of the electricity TRVs for a part of the professional clientele”. The Group wanted to “maintain its market shares in the supply of electricity and strengthen its position in the related markets for the supply of gas and energy services”, according to the same source.
As part of the instruction, EDF requested the benefit of the “transaction procedure”. This procedure allows a company that does not deny the facts of obtaining a pecuniary sanction inside a negotiated range with the General Rapporteur.