The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has published the draft block exemption regulations for Energy Suppliers 2023 and similar exemptions for Energy Users under the Competition Act.
The Exemption for Energy Users deals explicitly with securing backup energy supplies, reducing energy costs and promoting the efficient use of the energy supply.
This includes fixing the prices of selling goods and services to customers or consumers, as well as collusive tendering. Both sets of regulations specifically deal with issues around price fixing, collusive tendering and anti-competitive business practices – specifically those mentioned in sections 4 and 5 of the Competition Act.