this National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) opened a informative file for large companies in the sector natural gas Analyzing whether large number of customer transfers to regulated gas tariffs already underway are blocked due to a new multimillion-dollar aid package launched by the government.
The agency requests information from all major companies necessary to market regulated rates (Naturgy, Endesa, Iberdrola and Totalenergies) on the staff and technical resources they have employed to deal with groundbreaking rate change requests in recent weeks following complaints from many consumers about waiting times and difficulties in obtaining contracts.
According to El Periódico de España from the Prensa Ibérica group, the informative dossier is: First step in audit processes that CNMC can perform in regulated industries In many cases, it serves as a warning to travelers for companies to correct their actions and in this case strengthen customer service. Depending on the information collected, the body may decide to initiate disciplinary proceedings against certain companies that involve a formal investigation, resulting in certain sanctions.
The opening of the investigation was announced by Sara Aagesen, Minister of State for Energy, in an interview with RNE and confirmed by official Competition sources. Cani Fernández, head of CNMC, noted last week that there was no major bottleneck in processing requests to change contract, confirming that “last resort marketers have agreed with requests to deal with agility.” contracting the regulated gas rate”. A few days later, the opening of an informative dossier on the same topic was approved.
The Ministry of Ecological Transition works with both energy companies and the CNMC. adequately size tools dedicated to participating in the “avalanche of demands” The number of customers who want to change the rate, according to the Secretary of State.
The government has launched a million-dollar package of measures to lower the gas bills of more than three million households. A €3,000 million anti-crisis shield that considers continuing to limit applicable increases by law 1.5 million customers of regulated gas rate through 2023 and also the creation of a new type of rate that will cut the bills of 1.7 million homes with central heating in their neighborhoods in half.
Main gas companies obliged to offer different regulated rates for natural gas ( last resort rate, ENG)He’s been recording an avalanche of questions from clients about his jumps into regulated work in recent days, and acknowledges that there’s been a shift in the trend for a massive contraction of regulated rates that will expire years later with a dwindling client portfolio. market rates.
The number of customers benefiting from free gas market prices, the price of which is freely determined by the companies, is much higher than the customers of regulated enterprises, whose price is set quarterly by the Government based on the evolution of international hydrocarbon prices, but whose increases have had the maximum limit since last year. With last year’s closing data, approximately 6.5 million customers contracted for free rates (more than 80% of the total) and 1.5 million continued at regulated rates.
The executive guarantees to allocate the entire necessary public budget to close the millionaire gap that the new relief measures will create in the accounts of the Spanish gas system, and this could be triggered by this massive flight of customers towards regulated rates. As stated in the royal decree approved by the Cabinet this Tuesday, the Ministry of Ecological Transition will approve an exceptional loan of 3,000 million to cover the cost of these measures, but commits to “increase the amount of this item.” It is necessary to close the real gap created by the end of 2023.