The Energy Regulatory Authority (RME) gave Tibber a fee of NOK 8 million.
The background is that Tibber switched to advance invoicing in September 2022 and used the wrong price.
– This is the worst case I know of, says Torfin Jonassen, section leader in RME.
In the decision, it is assumed that Tibber Noreg AS was aware that the methodology used by the company in autumn 2022 was in breach of the rules.
RME has emphasized this as an aggravating element in this case.
– We had a dialogue with Tibber in advance where we clarified what was permitted and what was not, yet they invoiced in advance with a price that was too high, says Jonassen.
NRK has submitted the above criticism to daily leader Edgeir Aksnes in Tibber.
– We did research on what was the right procedure and thought we did it, but used the wrong stock exchange when the prices were seen. This was a misinterpretation of the rules, says Aksnes.
The company received strong criticism for the change they made in autumn 2022.
The Norwegian Consumer Protection Authority immediately notified that the practice was illegal.
– Consumers can be tempted by agreements that involve advance invoicing, but the invoicing must be predictable and verifiable. As we consider Tibber Noreg’s practice in this specific case, this is not the case, says director of RME Tore Langset in a press release.
A penalty fee of NOK 8 million is the largest RME has given to any company.
To Europower accepts Aksne’s mistake in the first two weeks of October 2022 in connection with the interim period of advance invoicing.
Aksnes tells NRK that they take responsibility for the error and accept the fee. He clarifies that they corrected the error at the same time RME made them aware of it.
– As a responsible company, we must of course follow laws and regulations, and we deeply regret that such an error escaped our notice, he says.
The disputed invoicing led to several customers leaving the electricity company in 2022.