With the upcoming competition reforms and the establishment of the Competition and Markets Authority approaching, reports say utilities will face threats of more class actions.
New legislation aimed to close loopholes and nix legal shortcomings in the current competition regime, some of which make it difficult for consumers to bring group legal action against companies, will make it easier for consumers to launch class actions against firms found to have violated competition law. Some legal experts say this will be an additional deterrence against companies’ anticompetitive practices.
Among the new legal proposals is the establishment of accredited organizations with the sole purpose of representing consumer groups looking to bring action against a company.
That accreditation will not be given to private legal firms, said Guy Laugher, a lawyer at Pinsent Mason. Rather, the accreditation will likely to go trade associations and consumer groups.
Under current UK policy, consumers must opt into collection action if it is available.
Full Content: Utility Week
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Uruguayan Antitrust Scrutiny Puts Major Meatpacking Deal Between Marfrig and Minerva on Hold
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Alaska Airlines Seeks Dismissal of Consumer Lawsuit Over $1.9 Billion Hawaiian Airlines Buy
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Idaho Attorney General Orders Split of Kootenai Health and Syringa Hospital
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Court Rejects T-Mobile’s Appeal Bid in Antitrust Case Over Sprint Merger
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Google Requests Judge, Not Jury, to Decide on Antitrust Case
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Mapping Antitrust onto Digital Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystems and Competition Law: A Law and Political Economy Approach
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystem Theories of Harm: What is Beyond the Buzzword?
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Open Ecosystems: Benefits, Challenges, and Implications for Antitrust
May 9, 2024 by
CPI