MADRID, 17 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) has fined Audax Renovables and its subsidiaries ADS Energy, Ahorreluz, By Energyc, Iris Energía and Masqluz for attracting electricity and gas customers from other companies through 9.25 million euros. fraudulent practices.
After initiating an initial analysis of the Competition resolution, the company will file an appeal against it before the competent body, understanding that there are “solid grounds” for it.
Thus, Audax has already initiated the necessary procedures to appeal the sanctions imposed by the CNMC “with the aim of being unscathed” from them, as reported this Monday to the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV).
Specifically, as explained by the CNMC, the Audax Group marketers carried out “acts of deception and confusion” to encourage customers who had their contracts with rival marketers to become part of their portfolio of domestic electricity and gas customers, from January 2018 to October 2021.
In April 2021, in view of the information collected thanks to various complaints filed with the CNMC, and the information provided by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU), the CNMC initiated a disciplinary proceeding for possible anti-competitive practices.
Once said file was instructed, the CNMC has proven that the sanctioned Audax marketers have carried out “acts of deception and confusion” to attract customers of other electricity and gas marketers through strategies such as the attempt to attract customers by posing as by his usual company or the communication to consumers of an alleged update or renewal of the rate, also posing as his usual company or the offer to consumers of supposed discounts on the rate ensuring that they would continue to be linked to his usual company.
Other strategies adopted have been the communication of an alleged mandatory change of marketer due to an alleged disappearance or change of name of its usual company and the communication of an alleged change in billing or distributor.
Likewise, according to the CNMC, it has been proven that these unfair behaviors were carried out in a generalized way, affecting thousands of clients, including vulnerable consumers, thus causing an effective and significant change in the behavior of demand in the markets of essential services. commercialization of electricity and gas to domestic customers.
The CNMC has recalled that a contentious-administrative appeal may be filed directly against this resolution before the National High Court within two months from the day following its notification.
