OREANDA-NEWS. December 02, 2011. “Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Penza” Ltd., within the group of persons with “Penzagazifikatsia” OJSC, sent unreasonable notices to its customers about suspending gas supply. Such actions of the company can result in suspending gas supply to gas-using equipment of its customers and, as a consequence, infringing their interests, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Due to such unlawful actions, on 21st November 2011 the Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Penza region (Penza OFAS Russia) fined “Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Penza” Ltd. over 355,000 Rubles for abusing market dominance (under Part 14.31 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Violations).

“Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Penza” Ltd. sent notices to its customers, that had not renewed the contracts for maintenance of in-house gas equipment and emergency dispatch with specialised organisation, about suspending gas supply. The company referred to absence of such contracts.

At the time of receiving notices, the customers had existing contracts for providing the services for maintenance of in-house gas equipment with “Penzagazifikatsia” OJSC. Thus, there were no grounds for “Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Penza” Ltd. to send such notices.

As a result of unlawful actions, in September 2011, Penza OFAS Russia found that “Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Penza” Ltd., within the group of persons with “Penzagazifikatsia” OJSC, violated the antimonopoly law (Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”). Later it constituted the grounds for the antimonopoly body initiating the administrative case and fining the company over 355,000 Rubles.