The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (OCCP) has initiated proceedings to determine whether PGNiG (Poland's largest oil and gas exploration and production company) has implemented the authority’s decision requiring it to change the way it contracts its customers

In December 2013 the OCCP issued a commitment decision stating that PGNiG had been abusing its dominant position on the market and requiring it to change the way it contracts its customers. The company used contract provisions that were disadvantageous to businesses that bought wholesale or retail gas. Such clauses restricted the ability to reduce the quantity of fuel they ordered and the contractual capacity for the next gas year, making it conditional on the consent of PGNiG.

Over the course of the proceedings, the company agreed to change contested practices. To meet the conditions of the decision PGNiG was required to propose to recipients that they sign an addendum to contracts that had already been concluded. As a result, PGNiG recipients would obtain greater freedom to reduce ordered quantities of fuel and the size of their contractual capacity for the next gas year.

The aim of the proceedings initiated on 17 October is to check whether PGNiG has met the above mentioned commitments and changed its practice in line with the OCCP’s decision. It is worth mentioning that the scope of the proceedings also covers PGNiG Obrót Detaliczny, a subsidiary of PGNiG, which was established after the decision had been issued, but became a party to a number of the contested contracts.

Additional information for the media:
Małgorzata Cieloch, Spokesperson for UOKiK
Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Phone: 22 827 28 92, 55 60 314, 55 60 430
Fax 22 826 11 86
E-mail: malgorzata.cieloch@uokik.gov.pl