Mint and BCM Energy electricity suppliers are respectively inflicted a penalty of 3.5 and 3 million euros for abusive practice on the occasion of energy prices, the Energy Regulatory Regulation Commission (CRE) announced Thursday.
The two companies are sanctioned for abusing the right to buy EDF cheap nuclear electricity, returning it to the markets to the maximum of 2021 instead of benefiting their customers.
The CRE, the energy sector gendarme, had opened two research on its practices at the end of 2022 and early 2023.
At the end of his investigations, he seized his committee in accordance with disputes and sanctions (Cordis), which decided on July 3 “to inflict a financial fine of 3.5 million euros to the company’s mint and 3 million euros to the BCM Energy company for having committed, each, an abuse of access to historical nuclear electricity (Arenh) in the years 1920 and 2022”.
“Arenh abuse”
Under the “Arenh” mechanism imposed by Brussels, EDF is forced to sell to its cheap nuclear production competitors.
Previously, in July 2024, the supplier OHM Energie had already imposed a record fine of 6 million euros for “Arenh abuse” in the same context.
The surveillance of alternative supplies, which benefit from de facto subsidized electricity, had been particularly reinforced during the energy crisis, which had seen the wholesale prices of electricity in Europe reaching its summit under the effect of recovery after cavidas and war in Ukraine.
These surveys “demonstrate the essential role of the window exercised by CRE in the retail market, aimed at ensuring that all actors respect the regulations,” said President Emmanuelle Wargon on Thursday.
Source: BFM TV
