The Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) is investigating energy suppliers Bohemia Energy, Europe Easy Energy and Lumius for possible unfair practices in the energy market. Office spokesman Michal Kebort said this.
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According to him, for Bohemia Energy and Europe Easy Energy, the ERO is investigating possible violations of the Consumer Protection Act, specifically suspicions of the use of prohibited unfair commercial practices. Both companies belong to the same business group Bohemia Energy, which is the largest group of alternative energy suppliers in the Czech Republic.
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According to the office, another company, Lumius, unexpectedly terminates gas supply contracts, especially for large customers. He is looking for the opinion of ČTK companies.
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Kebort stated that already during September, several hundred consumers complained to the ERO about a unilateral change in the fixed price by Bohemia Energy and Europe Easy Energy. Now the number of such consumer complaints reaches several hundred every day, the spokesman said.
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“We are receiving an extreme number of complaints about the behavior of these two companies, which is why we decided to exceptionally inform the public about our steps already at the stage of initiating the investigation. People complain not only about the premature termination of the price fixation. Another big question is how these companies are persuading consumers to switch from fixed products to variable prices set by the stock exchange. This is the exact opposite of the security offered by fixation, “said Stanislav Trávníček, Chairman of the ERO Council, today.
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The Office pointed out that it must not anticipate the outcome of the investigation, but reminded that in general it can impose a fine of up to five million for violations of the Consumer Protection Act. In extreme cases, where there are repeated and serious violations of the law, the ERO may proceed to the revocation of the license.
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Another of the named companies, Lumius, then, according to the office, sends customers a message informing them of the termination of gas supplies. Among the addressed customers are also heating plants that supply heat to households. At the same time, the company is already entering requirements for shortening gas supplies into the market operator’s system.
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The ERO recalled that if Lumius declared bankruptcy, its customer would be taken care of by a so-called supplier last instance, with the exception of those whose consumption exceeds 630 megawatt hours of gas per year.
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“The chosen procedure, when the company terminated deliveries only to some customers, but in practice means that all addressed customers must immediately find a new supplier. This causes them complications, for example, in relation to the deadlines arising from the Public Procurement Act. In addition, they have to reckon with the fact that the new supplier will offer them a delivery at a current, many times higher price than they had agreed with the original supplier, “said Kebort. According to him, the acquisition of a new supplier, which could provide energy for new customers, is now proving a problem.
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We believe that the Office’s actions will be a strong warning to all suppliers who would like to solve their problems at the expense of consumers in violation of the law. The contracts are to be fulfilled, and this applies to both parties.
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“We believe that the Office’s actions will be a strong warning to all suppliers who would like to solve their problems at the expense of consumers in violation of the law. The contracts are to be fulfilled, and this applies to both parties, even in the current conditions, when energy prices on stock exchanges are rising dramatically. If our proceedings confirm the conduct of traders in violation of the contracts or any other illegal conduct, the ERO will file a criminal complaint against the executives of such companies. Due to the seriousness and unprecedented scope of this action, we will hold them to personal responsibility, “added Trávníček.
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According to the data of the Electricity Market Operator (OTE), it supplied Bohemia Energy entities at the end of August electricity about 400,000 and gas about 190,000 customers. Europe Easy Energy it had about 39,000 customers on electricity and about 21,000 on gas. Lumius supplied electricity to about 8,000 and gas to about 3,200 customers.
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Wholesale prices of electricity and gas have recently risen to record highs, so some price lists of suppliers may become more expensive by tens of percent or even many times.
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