Italy: seven energy suppliers in the sights of the competition authorities

Italy’s competition watchdog has announced that it has opened investigations against seven energy groups, including Enel, Eni and France’s Engie, on suspicion of having made “illegal unilateral changes” to electricity and gas prices.

These energy suppliers, which also include Hera, A2A, Edison and Acea, represent about 80% of the market, the Competition Authority said in a statement.

More than 2.6 million consumers have “already experienced an unjustified price increase,” the institution assures based on data provided by companies.

As elsewhere in Europe, soaring energy prices are a very sensitive issue in Italy, where the government led by Giorgia Meloni plans to spend more than 21 billion euros on measures to support households and businesses by 2023.

The Competition Authority accuses the companies involved of having modified electricity and gas tariffs without taking into account a decree issued on August 9 on measures to mitigate the surge in prices.

“Companies will therefore have to suspend the application of the new economic conditions, maintaining or restoring the prices charged before August 10,” the statement said.

“Excellent news! Our demands have been met”, reacted Marco Vignola, head of the energy sector of the National Union of Consumers.

The investigations into the seven groups are in addition to those already opened on the same grounds against energy suppliers Iren, Dolomiti Energia, E.ON and Iberdrola, the Italian antitrust authority added.