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EC makes EDF commitments on French customers legally binding The European Commission has made commitments offered by EDF over the treatment of large electricity consumers legally binding. The move brings an end to anti-trust charges initiated by Europe's competition authorities against the French electricity giant in December 2009 and has been hailed as a victory in the push by European regulators to enhance competition in France's electricity market. "Today's decision marks an important step towards the effective liberalisation of the French electricity markets to the benefit of large customers and, by extension, the economy as a whole," said EU Vice President for Competition Joaquin Almunia. Under the deal, EDF will have to ensure that its competitors in France have access to customers that are currently tied to EDF through long term contracts. Future contracts between EDF and large customers will have a maximum term of five years, while EDF will also have to ensure that an average of 65 per cent of the electricity it has contracted returns to the market every year. Large consumers will be able to sign non-exclusive deals with EDF, enabling them to source energy from other suppliers at the same time as EDF, and EDF will also allow consumers to sell power on to others. The commitments "will facilitate the emergence of more effective competition in supplying large electricity consumers in France", read a statement from the Commission, which has been investigating France's electricity market since 2007. EDF will have to submit yearly reports to the Commission and the French energy regulator on its compliance with the commitments. Source: Utility Week © Faversham House Group Ltd 2010. News articles may be copied or forwarded
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