France: Record penalty of EUR 6 million against Ohm Energie for abuse of rights

The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has fined Ohm Energie 6 million euros for abusing its Arenh entitlement, citing abusive practices during the 2022 energy crisis.

Partagez:

The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has announced an unprecedented sanction against Ohm Energie, imposing a fine of 6 million euros for abusive practices relating to the purchase and resale of nuclear electricity at reduced tariffs, under the Arenh (regulated access to historical nuclear electricity) mechanism. This mechanism enables alternative suppliers to buy electricity at low prices fromEDF (Électricité de France), in order to resell it at competitive rates to their customers. In addition, the Conseil d’Etat recently raised the Arenh ceiling.

Abuse of Arenh by Ohm Energie

Ohm Energie is accused of acquiring volumes of cheap electricity thanks to Arenh, in the midst of the post-Covid energy crisis and the war in Ukraine, and then selling this energy on the markets at high prices, instead of passing on these advantages to its customers. This practice was detected by CRE, which opened an investigation in September 2022. The regulator concluded that these actions constituted a flagrant abuse of the Arenh right.

CRE investigation and decisions

The CRE, which oversees the smooth operation of the electricity market and consumer protection, referred the matter to its Dispute Settlement and Sanctions Committee (CoRDiS) following this investigation. On July 11, CoRDiS decided to sanction Ohm Energie by 6 million euros, marking the largest sanction ever pronounced by this body in the electricity sector.

Reactions and implications

This decision comes at a time when the CRE has stepped up its monitoring of alternative operators, in the face of rising energy prices that have prompted many consumers to turn to alternative suppliers. CRE Chairwoman Emmanuelle Wargon stressed the importance of this increased vigilance to ensure fair market practices and protect consumers from abuse.

Background and outlook

The energy crisis of 2022, exacerbated by the post-pandemic economic recovery and the war in Ukraine, has put a strain on Europe’s electricity market, causing prices to soar. The French government then forced EDF to increase Arenh volumes to mitigate the impact on consumers. However, abusive practices by some suppliers, such as Ohm Energie, have undermined these efforts, highlighting the need for strict regulation and ongoing monitoring.

Impact on the sector

This record sanction against Ohm Energie sends a strong signal to other market operators. CRE has indicated that two other suppliers are also under investigation for similar abuses. EDF, which has won back a large number of customers during the crisis, has called on the public authorities to take a firmer line against the opportunistic behavior of certain suppliers.
CRE’s vigilance and punitive measures against abuses are essential to maintain a fair and transparent electricity market. Consumers need to be able to rely on their suppliers to respect the rules and engage in ethical business practices.

Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.
The European battery regulation, fully effective from August 18, significantly alters industrial requirements related to electric cars and bicycles, imposing strict rules on recycling, supply chains, and transparency for companies.
The European Parliament calls on the Commission to strengthen energy infrastructure and accelerate the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal to enhance the continent's energy flexibility and security amid increased market volatility.
The European Commission unveils an ambitious plan to modernize electricity grids and introduces the Clean Industrial Deal, mobilizing hundreds of billions of euros to strengthen the continent's industrial and energy autonomy.
In the United States, regulated electric grid operators hold a decisive advantage in connecting new data centres to the grid, now representing 134 GW of projects, according to a Wood Mackenzie report published on June 19.
The French National Assembly approves a specific target of 200 TWh renewable electricity production by 2030 within a legislative text extensively debated about the future national energy mix.
In 2024, US CO₂ emissions remain stable at 5.1bn tonnes, as the Trump administration prepares hydrocarbon-friendly energy policies, raising questions about the future evolution of the American market.
The early publication of France's energy decree triggers strong parliamentary reactions, as the government aims to rapidly secure investments in nuclear and other energy sectors.
Seven weeks after the major Iberian power outage, Spain identifies technical network failures, while the European Investment Bank approves major funding to strengthen the interconnection with France.
The European Union has announced a detailed schedule aiming to definitively halt Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, anticipating internal legal and commercial challenges to overcome.
Madagascar plans the imminent opening of a 105 MW thermal power plant to swiftly stabilise its electricity grid, severely affected in major urban areas, while simultaneously developing renewable energy projects.
India's Central Electricity Regulatory Commission proposes a new financial instrument enabling industrial companies to meet renewable energy targets through virtual contracts, without physical electricity delivery, thus facilitating compliance management.
Minister Marc Ferracci confirms the imminent publication of the energy programming decree, without waiting for the conclusion of parliamentary debates, including a substantial increase in Energy Efficiency Certificates.
At a conference held on June 11, Brussels reaffirmed its goal to reduce energy costs for households and businesses by relying on targeted investments and greater consumer involvement.
The European Commission held a high-level dialogue to identify administrative obstacles delaying renewable energy and energy infrastructure projects across the European Union.
Despite increased generation capacity and lower tariffs, Liberia continues to rely on electricity imports to meet growing demand, particularly during the dry season.