Activities
List of energy prices
The Competition Authority maintains an up-to-date list of energy prices. However, the technical solution is old and it is limited in terms of functionality and reliability. In addition, it is not sufficiently easy to use. The revised 2009 national budget provides no funds to develop a new solution as had been proposed. The reason given was that a central decision was required about how responsibility for consumer portals of this type should be assigned.
During the autumn of 2009 the Competition Authority initiated limited work designed to make a number of functional changes and obtain better user access within the solution. Towards the end of 2009 funds were promised by the Ministry of Government Administration and Reform (FAD) in order to continue developing the energy price database. This will simplify maintenance, make it easier for users and provide more accurate price comparisons.
Double calculation fare system for taxi transport
In 2009 the Competition Authority drew up and circulated consultative documents containing new draft regulations relating to fare calculations and maximum prices for taxi transport.
Cooperation with the Consumer Ombudsman and the Consumer Council
The Competition Authority has cooperation agreements with the Consumer Ombudsman and the Norwegian Consumer Council. In addition to engaging in regular cooperation on specific cases, the three organisations hold regular cooperation meetings twice a year. A regular meeting has also been established for discussing the groceries markets among the Consumer Council, the Consumer Ombudsman, the National Institute for Consumer Research and the Competition Authority.
Results
List of energy prices
Visits per month and energy price developments in 2009
Visits per month
Elspot price South (NO1)
Elspot price Central (NO2)
Elspot price North (NO3)
The Competition Authority's list of energy prices received 195,105 unique visitors in 2009. This list of energy prices makes it easier for consumers to compare energy prices and to find their way around the market so that they can more easily decide whether or not it is to their advantage to change their energy supply agreements or their energy providers. Many of the changes of supplier/agreement that occur can be attributed to the energy prices list. The Competition Authority also receives a number of phone calls and e-mails from consumers seeking help with finding cheaper electricity supply agreements. These may, for example, come from consumers who do not have access to the Internet, users requiring assistance or users who have queries about the energy market, the energy prices list and the prices reported.
Better competition with more simplified fares
The Competition Authority determines maximum prices for taxi services throughout much of the country. However, in most major towns and some other areas prices are freely determined in the market. In both price-regulated areas and in areas with market pricing, the current fare system (single system calculation) is very difficult for consumers and providers to understand. This makes it difficult to compare various offers, which in turn reduces competition in the market.
The Authority is proposing that some fare elements, such as supplements for advance bookings, should be prohibited. The Competition Authority is also proposing a scheme whereby the relationship between the most important fare elements should be the same for all taxi companies. This proposal is intended as an addition to the introduction of double system calculation and it could make it even easier to compare taxi prices.
In addition, the Competition Authority has implemented a full review of current price regulation with the aim of making maximum prices more readily available to both providers and consumers. The Competition Authority believes that these proposals, along with the provision of better price information at large taxi ranks and in taxis, will make it easier for consumers to compare prices and make informed choices about providers, thus strengthening competition among those involved in the taxi market. These proposals have been circulated for consultation and the Authority is currently working on making a final decision about the matter.