OREANDA-NEWS. July 09, 2012. The antimonopoly body for the Kaliningrad region (Kaliningrad OFAS Russia) fined “Kaliningradgazifikatsia” OJSC 1,236,885 Rubles for abusing market dominance (Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.  

The antimonopoly investigation was initiated upon complaints of residents of Kaliningrad region to OFAS. According to the residents, Kaliningrad gasifies fixed unreasonably high prices for installing household gas metering devices.

“Conducting the investigation, OFAS experts have revealed that the company infringed the interests of general public as it fixed prices for materials. Used to assemble gas metering devices as well as prices при составлении смет на выполнение работ, in breach of pricing procedures”, pointed out the Head of Kaliningrad OFAS Russia, Olga Bobrova. “Our inspection showed that the company failed to develop a budget for the works completed in an apartment of one of the petitioners”.

In December 2011, Kaliningrad OFAS Russia found that “Kaliningradgazifikatsia” OJSC violated the antimonopoly law and issued a determination to eliminate the violation. The determination obligates the company to devise and establish the procedures for concluding contracts with applicants for installing gas metering devices on the basis of existing regulations. “Kaliningradgazifikatsia” OJSC also must specify prices for materials and equipment used as raw materials and for assembling gas metering devices.

In April 2012, Kaliningrad Regional Arbitration Court supported the decision of Kaliningrad OFAS Russia.