After an initial investigation launched last Friday against Ohm energy, the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) is interested in the practices of other competitors, in particular the Montpellier Mint energy, but also Cdiscount and its supplier GreenYellow . They could be accused of reselling at a high price on the regulated electricity markets intended primarily for their customers.
Faced with these cases of fraud, the Commission also wishes to strengthen its coercive means. A request that has, it seems, been heard. « Agnes Pannier-Runacher (Minister for Energy Transition) is working to strengthen controls to avoid manifestly opportunistic behavior by certain suppliers to the detriment of consumers, it is explained in the minister’s entourage. This will require new regulatory and legislative measures. »
A regulated price ten times cheaper than on the wholesale markets
In question in particular: this famous part of electricity of nuclear origin that EDF has an obligation to sell to its competitors at a knockdown price. In November of each year, the suppliers submit a request for the volume of this electricity that they wish to purchase, in proportion to the number of their customers. Some are suspected of artificially inflating their needs in order to recover larger volumes, the excess of which they then resell on the markets. Enough to currently make pretty somersaults, while the regulated price is currently at 46.20 euros per megawatt hour (MWh). The prices of the wholesale market flirt, them, cheerfully with 500 euros per MWh.
“Several avenues are being studied to strengthen the powers of the CRE, we go back to the minister’s office. This could indeed involve strengthening upstream controls in order to be able to limit manifestly excessive requests for the following year. Especially since they result in artificially increasing prices. »
Last January, the consumer association CLCV had already alerted the CRE to these risks of abuse by certain suppliers, as well as the financial impact for consumers. “In the most extreme cases, specifies the ministry, the CRE could obtain the right to suspend – partially or totally – the deliveries of this nuclear electricity to a supplier who does not respect the rules. »