PRAGUE, April 29, 2026 — The Czech competition authority, Office for the Protection of Competition, has terminated antitrust proceedings against major energy companies CEZ, EP Energy, and Veolia Energie CR, citing insufficient evidence to prove a cartel.
The investigation examined whether the companies exchanged sensitive commercial information and coordinated their conduct in auctions linked to a state support scheme for electricity generated from high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) plants.
Suspicion but no conclusive proof
The authority said it had reasonable grounds to suspect anti-competitive coordination, a view previously supported by administrative courts. However, despite gathering extensive internal communications during on-site inspections, the evidence did not meet the threshold required to establish an illegal agreement.
“Although a substantial volume of communication was secured, it is not sufficient to prove the existence of a cartel beyond reasonable doubt,” the authority said.
Case highlights evidentiary challenges
The decision underscores the high evidentiary bar in cartel cases, particularly where coordination may occur indirectly or without explicit agreements.
While the proceedings have now been closed, the case reflects ongoing scrutiny of information exchanges and bidding behaviour in public support schemes, which regulators consider areas vulnerable to collusion risks.
The authority did not impose any fines, and the companies are no longer subject to antitrust proceedings in this matter.
