Endesa fined €180,000

Portugal’s electricity regulator ERSE has fine the Spanish multinational electric utility company Endesa, which has a considerable presence in Portugal, €180,000 for 92 infractions.

The ERSE had fined it €360,000 but reduced the amount of the fine given because of “violating various regulations regarding the commercial relationship with the client” — meaning the change of the seller without the expressed authorisation of the client”.
However, the ERSE’s Advisory Board has decided to reduce the fine against Endesa to €180,000, aware that the electricity company has paid out compensation to consumer in recognition that it had made infractions.
An investigation case was opened in June 2019 following complaints received reporting alleged changes in the commercial electricity and or gas supplier company requested by Endesa without the expressed authorisation of the client to that effect.
The company also failed to submit a request to change the commercial supplier within a maximum period of five working days and of unilaterally changing the price without communicating the new price or even informing the consumer of the right to cancel the contract before the new prices were applied.
It also failed to record the over-the-phone conversation or retain it which resulted in the consumer not being given an opportunity to consent to a new natural gas supply contract.