The Competition and Market Authority (Agcm) has concluded six investigative proceedings for unfair commercial practices in envisaging the economic conditions for the supply of electricity and gas on the free market.
Four sanctioned companies
In particular, four investigations led to the ascertainment of misleading and omissive conduct regarding the indication of the costs of supplying electricity or gas and penalties against Ajò Energia (148 thousand euros), Bluenergy (2 million euros) , Ubroker (1.88 million euros) and Visitel (100 thousand euros). The other two investigations – against Enne Energia and Europe Energy – were closed with the acceptance of the commitments.
«During the preliminary investigation – the Agcm said – an extensive analysis was carried out of the contractual and promotional documentation of the commercial offers proposed by the operators concerned and of the reports of consumers. Following this activity, important critical issues emerged and a general misleading or omission of information on some components of the electricity and gas supply price on the free market “.
Marketing charges omitted
In many cases, the Authority’s note continues, “the indication of the value of the” marketing costs “(generally referred to as the marketing and sales price – Pcv – for electricity and retail sales quota – Qvd – for electricity) was omitted. gas) both in the contract conditions and in the promotional material, in which only the price of the “energy component” was advertised, although these charges represent an essential part of the price of the supply for the consumer and of the companies’ revenues “. These are amounts that are added to the invoice to the charges set by the regulator – system, transport and meter management charges – or of a fiscal nature.
Furthermore, some offers provided for penalties, also in the form of cancellation of the discounts granted at the time of signing the contract – however, in contrast with the current regulation -, which were applied in the event of early withdrawal from the supply contract.