The National Markets and Competition Commission has imposed a fine of 9.25 million euros on the Audax Group and its subsidiaries for anti-competitive conduct. According to the statement from the regulatory body, the Audax marketers "carried out acts of deception and confusion to encourage customers who had their contracts with rival marketers to become part of their portfolio of domestic electricity and gas customers, since January 2018 until October 2021".
The sanctioning file began in April of last year as a result of the information provided by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) and several complaints that indicated that the company was carrying out fraudulent practices. As a result of all this, on October 5, the CNMC imposed on Audax and its subsidiaries ADS Energy; Savings Online Services; By Energyc Efficient Energy; Iris Energía Eficiente and Masqluz sanctions for a joint amount of 9,258,270 euros.
The CNMC explains that the group carried out various illegal strategies in order to obtain new clients. Specifically, it accuses him of trying to attract consumers from other electricity and gas marketers by posing as their usual company with the excuse of informing them of an alleged update or renewal of the rate and offering them supposed discounts assuring them that they would continue to be linked to their usual company.
For its part, Audax Renovables has informed the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) of its intention to appeal the sanction. The company indicates that, after an initial analysis of the resolution, it understands that there are solid grounds for filing an appeal against it before the competent authority, whose procedures have already begun.
