6 Italian energy providers fined for irregular price hikes

By Giada Zampano

ROME (AA) — Six Italian energy companies, including giants Eni and Enel, were fined for a total of more than €15.6 million ($16.31 million) for charging consumers higher prices despite a state ban on unilateral hikes, Italy's antitrust regulator said on Wednesday.

The price increases were imposed between August 2022 and June 2023 when the Italian government banned unilateral price hikes for gas and electricity, in a move aimed at helping households and firms hit by a spike in energy prices.

Enel was fined for up to €10 million, while Eni was ordered to pay €5 million for imposing higher prices to more than 4 million customers, without any previous warning.

Regional providers Acea and Dolomiti Energia were also fined €560,000 and €50,000, respectively.

The Italian unit of Spanish firm Iberdrola, meanwhile, was fined €25,000 for obliging customers to accept new contracts under "worsened economic conditions," the Antitrust body said.

Edison was fined only for €5,000 because it reimbursed customers after raising prices, and its move affected a marginal number of people, according to the regulator.