Over 600 reports since January complaining of an abnormal increase in gas prices (in some cases even fivefold) and the lack of prior information about it. Due to the high number of reports received, the Antitrust not only opened but also communicated the start of an investigation against Enel for a possible violation of the Consumer Codeviolations that the Competition and Market Guarantor generally does not announce.
Gas bills, disbursements quadrupled or quintupled
Following «the numerous and continuous complaints (over 600), since January 2024, from individual consumers and micro-enterprises, also through consumer associations, who complain of having received, during the billing cycles relating to the four-month period October 2023 – January 2024, bills showing a significant increase in the price of gas and electricity supplies compared to bills referring to the same time period in the previous year”. In particular, the Authority chaired by Roberto Rustichelli indicates, in the weekly bulletin, «the whistleblowers represent, in addition to the difficulty of sustaining disbursements quadrupled or quintupled compared to the past and of not having received any prior information in written form (via e-mail or paper), from Enel Energiaregarding the contractual renewal and that I was therefore unable to exercise the right of withdrawal or choose a different energy supplier”.
Failure to communicate
The announcement by the Agcm was contained in the weekly bulletin of 22 April (the day on which the Titled Dataroom «Shocking gas bills: this is how customer contracts have been modified»), a publication that the Authority sends every Monday in the late afternoon. «Some users – continues the Antitrust – report that they regularly receive invoices via email (or on the app), but that they have not received any communication of renewal of the economic conditions through the aforementioned channels and that they have accidentally found an email in spam, coming from from Enel Energia, to which the communication of renewal, following expiry, of the economic supply conditions was attached”.
Enel: always acted in compliance with the regulations
Enel has sent a note in which it specifies: «With reference to the decision of the Competition and Market Authority to initiate proceedings against Enel Energia for alleged unfair commercial practices in relation to the methods of drafting and sending communications for the renewal of economic conditions of electricity and gas supply, the Company believes it has always acted in full compliance with primary and sector regulations, as well as contractual regulations. Enel Energia is confident that it will be able to demonstrate the full correctness of its actions as the proceedings continue.”
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Tags: Enel Antitrust starts investigation complaints increases gas electricity bills
