The French Competition Authority fines two firms for abusing their dominant position in the water market (Sedif-Lyonnaise des Eaux)

The French Competition Authority (“Conseil de la concurrence”) fined two firms for abusing their dominant position in local water markets in the Paris region. The Decision addresses two distinct sets of practices. The Syndicat des Eaux d'Ile de France (“Sedif”) was fined € 100,000 for trying to prevent a rival water supplier, Sagep, from “poaching” one of its largest customers, the Semmaris. Sedif is alleged to have considered various retaliatory measures should Sagep contract with that customer. These included direct actions, such as acceding less often to Sagep's requests for water through the swap system linking various producers in the Paris region, and indirect ones, such as severing contractual relationships with firms controlled by the city of Paris, which is Sagep's majority