The Federal Cartel Office criticizes the lack of competition in public charging stations for electric cars. Many municipalities have allocated space predominantly or even exclusively to their own municipal utility or individual providers. “As a result, consumers have little choice and the risk of higher charging electricity prices increases,” criticizes the President of the Federal Cartel Office, Andreas Mundt.
The price differences at the charging stations could indicate abusively excessive prices in certain areas. In many local markets there are very few providers of charging power. “The concentration there is so high that dominant market positions are emerging,” said Mundt upon presentation of the final report on the marketing of public charging infrastructure. “Competition in the supply of charging current does not work properly in many places.” This “could actually have been avoided through better framework conditions for the allocation of land”.
The Cartel Office is not planning to intervene in pricing
However, the findings do not justify general interventions by the authorities. “Intervention by the antitrust authorities can only be examined on a case-by-case basis,” said Mundt. From today’s perspective, the conditions are not met. Individual price increases do not yet allow the conclusion that charging electricity prices in Germany are systematically and across the board excessive. Ultimately, operators have to cover their investment costs; the utilization of the columns is still very low in some cases.
It must also be taken into account that interventions in pricing could further inhibit the expansion of the charging network. Government measures for more price transparency would inevitably also benefit providers, warn the competition watchdogs. They could coordinate their prices with them.
Broadly speaking, improvements in competition could be achieved through stricter legal requirements. The allocation of public land should be temporary and carried out in a transparent and non-discriminatory process. State funding would also have to be awarded in a non-discriminatory manner.
The expansion of the offering on the motorways should be highlighted positively: the federal government has significantly improved the conditions for open market access for charging stations at the simple rest areas. Federally owned areas are within the scope of the so-called Germany network been advertised. In contrast, parking spaces at the serviced rest areas should remain with the Tank & Rast Group in particular. There is also a risk here that powerful market positions will emerge.
The Federal Cartel Office criticizes the lack of competition in public charging stations for electric cars. Many municipalities have allocated space predominantly or even exclusively to their own municipal utility or individual providers. “As a result, consumers have little choice and the risk of higher charging electricity prices increases,” criticizes the President of the Federal Cartel Office, Andreas Mundt.
The price differences at the charging stations could indicate abusively excessive prices in certain areas. In many local markets there are very few providers of charging power. “The concentration there is so high that dominant market positions are emerging,” said Mundt upon presentation of the final report on the marketing of public charging infrastructure. “Competition in the supply of charging current does not work properly in many places.” This “could actually have been avoided through better framework conditions for the allocation of land”.
