The Competition Authority (AdC) investigated consumer complaints and found the charge of five companies of the EDP and Sonae groups for having made an agreement restricting competition in the commercial campaign ‘Plan EDP continent’ launched in 2012.
With the EDP Continent Plan, adherents have 10% of EDP electricity bill discount on Continent card, and the Continent EDP Plan tariff equal to the simple EDP Universal Service rate.
in a note , released on Thursday, the AdC caveat that the adoption of this statement of objections does not determine the final outcome of the investigation and recalls that, at this stage, the opportunity to target companies from exercising their right of defense is given.
the alleged illegality committed by the companies accused concerns the existence of a mutual covenant not to compete in the areas of marketing of electricity and natural gas and retail distribution of food in continental Portugal, for a period of two years.
“in light of the Competition Act this may constitute, under certain circumstances, an unlawful agreement market-sharing between the companies involved,” reads the note.
This law prohibits agreements between undertakings that wish to restrict competition in the domestic market and are, by their very nature, a high potential for negative effects by reducing the welfare of consumers and damaging the competitiveness of companies and the economy as a whole .
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