Competition opens new files for infractions similar to those of the blackout

BARCELONAThe National Commission of Markets and Competition has opened 15 new sanctioning proceedings for possible infringements detected in the framework of the investigation into last year's blackout, although, unlike those announced last week, these correspond to "different days or periods" than those of April 28, 2025.

As reported this Friday by the supervisory body, 11 of the files correspond to Endesa. As confirmed by CNMC sources to ARA, they are different files because they correspond to different facilities. The remaining proceedings have been opened against TotalEnergies, Engie Cartagena, ContourGlobal La Rioja and Ascó-Vandellòs.

Competition accuses these companies – with the exception of the nuclear one – of the same breaches for whichFiles from last week

Competition accuses these companies – with the exception of the nuclear one– of the same breaches for which it already opened sanctioning procedures last week against Endesa, Naturgy, Iberdrola and Repsol, for facts that it did directly relate to the blackout. However, it has insisted again that the blackout had a "multifactorial origin" and that the facts that have led to the opening of sanctioning procedures "do not imply, by themselves, the attribution of the origin or cause" of the events of April 28 to the affected companies.

The procedures have a maximum duration of between nine and eighteen months, depending on the seriousness of the infraction, and the affected companies will be able to submit allegations.

Beyond the files opened against the aforementioned electricity companies, last week it also opened a procedure against Red Eléctrica for allegedly having failed to comply with its functions as an operator "to the detriment of the system or subjects", which could constitute a very serious infraction.