AdC makes nine recommendations for an “efficient and competitive” electric charging network
The Competition Authority (AdC) presented nine recommendations to the Government and municipalities to promote “efficient and competitive” coverage of electric vehicle charging infrastructures, it was announced this Tuesday.
Developed by AdC, the study “Competition and electric mobility in Portugal” identifies nine aspects that can be improved in the sector, in order to “promote competition and efficiency in the electric mobility network in Portugal”, for the benefit of consumers and the public. sustainable development of the economy.
In total, there are eight recommendations addressed to the Government and one to municipalities to respond to the five barriers identified for the expansion of a competitive charging network.
Among the barriers highlighted are the limitation on the entry of operators in the installation and operation of charging points on highways – currently concentrated in seven operators, which are either oil companies or have partnerships with them -, the difficulty in payment and price comparability, as well as its forecast, or the geographic asymmetry in network coverage.
The study also identifies the legal barriers to the entry of new agents in the electricity sector, as well as the complexity of the organizational model of electric mobility, which currently integrates charging point operators (OPC) and electricity traders for electric mobility (CEME).
Faced with these challenges, the competition authority suggests that the Government promote the simplification of payment methods at charging points accessible to the public and the simplification of the organizational model.
Likewise, it urges the executive to evaluate the costs and benefits of “selecting EGME (Electric Mobility Network Management Entity) through a competitive, open, transparent and non-discriminatory mechanism” and to impose the obligation that EGME – which currently it is Mobi.e – independent of CEME.
The Competition Authority also asks that the obligation for CEMEs to be OPCs be revoked and asks that both one and the other can contract electricity from “any economic agent that sells it”.
Finally, the competition regulator recommends that the Government promote the allocation of rights to install and operate charging points on motorways through open, transparent and non-discriminatory competitive mechanisms and revoke the extension of sub-concession contracts for service areas or filling stations without public tender.
As for municipalities, the AdC asks them to promote, “in a timely manner, the regional development of the electric mobility network, with a view to mitigating regional differentiation”.
A preliminary version of the study was submitted to public consultation between January 19th and March 1st of this year, having been “the most participated public consultation by the AdC”, having received an opinion from the Energy Services Regulatory Entity (ERSE) and 183 contributions from entities public, individual consumers, associations and operators.
