Press Release: Antitrust: EDF commitments to open French electricity market to competition made legally binding

The European Commission made on 17 March 2010 legally binding commitments offered by the French electricity group EDF. These commitments were offered in response to the Commission's concerns that EDF's contracts with large electricity consumers may hinder the entry and expansion of EDF's competitors on the French market. Under the commitments, EDF will make sure that every year a significant number of customers are free to contract with other electricity suppliers. Resale restrictions will also be removed. The decision will increase competition in the French electricity wholesale market to the benefit of large customers and the economy as a whole.