NMa: Energy Sector Responds Positively to Call for Self-Regulation
The energy sector has responded positively to the call by the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa) to draw up a code of conduct for acquisition and customer retention. According to NMa, confidence in the energy market has been seriously undermined by misleading and unfair acquisition practices. The code of conduct presented today by EnergieNed can make an important contribution to solving this problem, according to the regulator.
Peter Plug, the director of the NMa's Office of Energy Regulation (DTe), on the code: 'We were in favour of the energy companies' tackling the problem of acquisition themselves. It is good to see that they have taken up the challenge. Of course, it is important now that as many energy companies as possible endorse the code and comply with it. We trust that the parties which sign up to the code will adopt a respectable approach to acquisition and customer retention. However, the code does not mean that we will not exercise our statutory powers, where this proves necessary. We will monitor the parties which have signed up to the code with added interest."
In the coming period, NMa will monitor closely whether the code contributes to ensuring that consumers are no longer the victim of misleading and unfair acquisition. The regulator will remain in dialogue with the sector on the added value of the code and, where necessary, propose amendments or additions. Consumers who still experience problems with customer acquisition or who experience problems switching to a different energy supplier, may contact the Information Line of the Netherlands Competition Authority:tel. 0800 0231885.
In March this year, NMa received a draft code of conduct from the branch association, EnergieNed. NMa presented this draft to the consumer organisations and energy companies, including the energy companies not affiliated to EnergieNed. Partly on the basis of this consultation, NMa informed EnergieNed of the issues which it wished to see reflected in the final code of conduct.