Italy’s Regional Court Overturns Antitrust Fine Imposed By AGCM On Eni’s Plenitude

Italy’s Regional Court Overturns Antitrust Fine Imposed By AGCM On Eni’s Plenitude

It ruled that the firm did not violate a government decree to curb energy cost hikes

The Regional Administrative Court (TAR) of Lazio in Rome, Italy, has overturned a €5 million (($5.3 million) antitrust fine imposed on Plenitude, the retail unit of Italian energy group Eni.

The court ruled that Plenitude's price increase (after the expiry of fixed-term contracts), with proper notice to customers, did not violate a government decree to curb energy cost hikes.

In 2023, Italy's antitrust agency, AGCM fined Plenitude over billing practices. The watchdog accused the company of breaching the government decree terms, which temporarily banned unilateral price increase for gas and electricity. This was part of efforts to mitigate price hikes triggered by Russia's war on Ukraine.

However, the TAR court ruled that the decree did not prevent energy companies from raising prices following the expiry of special offers and giving prior notice and the right of cancellation to customers.