Competition concerns over EdF

Competition concerns over EdF

THE GOVERNMENT warned yesterday that it had competition concerns about Electricite de France's pounds 1.9bn takeover of London Electricity. John Battle, the Energy Minister, said he would be asking the European Commission to examine EdF's control over the power interconnector between Britain and France as part of its investigation of the deal. He said EdF's monopoly over the interconnector had competition implications, as did its control over the French electricity transmission and distribution system. The Government has criticised the lack of two-way trade through the interconnector and wants France and other continental countries to open up their energy markets.