OREANDA-NEWS. April 11, 2013. The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Komi Republic (Komi OFAS Russia) fined “MRSK North West” OJSC for several facts of abusing market dominance.

On 1st April 2013, Komi OFAS Russia fined “MRSK North West” OJSC over 58 million Rubles for failure to provide technological connection of energy-receiving devices within the designated period. In March 2011 a citizen concluded a contract with MRSK, the works were supposed to be completed within six months. However, the technical connection was completed only in February 2012, after the petitioner complained to the antimonopoly body. In May 2012, Komi OFAS Russia found that the company violated Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”. On 11 March 2013, Arbitration Court confirmed legitimacy of the decision.

On 29 March 2013, Komi OFAS Russia punished “MRSK North West” OJSC for breaching pricing procedures. The company unlawfully included the fee for drafting and approving technical conditions in the costs of the works for technological connections, which unlawfully increased the sums to be paid by “Apteka 36.6” Ltd. and “Kofeinya” Ltd. In September 2012 the antimonopoly body once again found that “MRSK North West” OJSC violated Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”. The fines on each case were over 38 million Rubles.

“MRSK North West” OJSC must set right interaction with consumers of technological connection services by strictly observing their rights provided for by the current law”, commented Deputy Head of Komi OFAS Russia, Tatiana Mikhailova.