EU charges power transformer cartel

EUROPE - EU antitrust regulators said they had charged several makers of electricity generation equipment with forming a price-fixing cartel.

It did not name the power transformer makers it had charged, but said the companies would be able to defend themselves in writing and at a hearing before the European Union decides on whether to fine them.

Germany's Siemens AG, France's Areva and Swiss engineering group ABB confirmed they had received the charges.

Power transformers are used to control the voltage in electrical circuits and are key components in transmission and distribution networks. They are bought by major power generation and transmission companies — so higher prices may raise costs and contribute to more expensive electricity prices for households and companies.

EU cartel fines can cost a company up to 10 percent of its global yearly revenue for each year it broke antitrust rules, often running into hundreds of millions of euros (dollars).

Officials raided several power transformer companies in France, Germany and Austria in February 2007.

Siemens AG spokesman Joern Roggenbuck confirmed that it was among those charged, but had no further comment.

The company said last year it had suspended three employees it suspected of colluding with rivals on the German market between 2001 and 2003. It said this happened before Siemens bought the Power Transmission and Distribution Group and VA Tech EBG units in 2005.

But Siemens said the behavior only became known as a result of the antitrust raids — meaning it was not the first to blow the whistle on the cartel. Whistle-blowers usually win a complete amnesty from fines.

Areva said the charges related to behavior predating its January 2004 purchase of a power transmission and distribution business from Alstom SA.

ABB said in a statement that it had also been charged and that it had a zero tolerance policy for employees who broke the law or behaved unethically.

Related News

modi

IEA praises Modi govt for taking electricity to every village; calls India 'star performer'

NEW DELHI - The global energy watchdog International Energy Agency (IEA) has called India's electrification of every village the greatest success story of 2018. In its latest report, World Energy Outlook 2018, the IEA has called India a "star performer" in terms of achieving the big milestone of the providing power to each village. "In particular, one of the greatest success stories in access to energy in 2018 was India completing the electrification of all of its villages," said the IEA. It added that countries like Indonesia and Bangladesh have also achieved the commendable electrification rate of 95% (up from…

READ MORE

Despite delays, BC Hydro says crews responded well to 'atypical' storm

READ MORE

gov lamont

CT leads New England charge to overhaul electricity market structure

READ MORE

yukon nuclear

Modular nuclear reactors a 'long shot' worth studying, says Yukon gov't

READ MORE

ontario electrical transmission

National Steel Car appealing decision in legal challenge of Ontario electricity fee it calls an unconstitutional tax

READ MORE