The European Commission last week said it imposed a fine of just over EUR1 million on OPCOM and on parent company Transelectrica (TEL.RO) for discriminating against foreign electricity traders for a period of five years.
The Commission opened antitrust proceedings into OPCOM’s behavior on the Romanian spot exchange markets in December 2012.
It said OPCOM’s requirement that all electricity traders must have a Romanian VAT registration, and consequently must establish business premises in Romania and operate from there, discriminates against foreign traders and inhibits competition on the local electricity market.