PGE Dystrybucja tender rigging leads to 13.5 million PLN in fines

The President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK), Tomasz Chróstny, has imposed fines totaling 13.5 million PLN on companies involved in rigging tenders organized by PGE Dystrybucja.

According to the antitrust regulator, the participating entrepreneurs conspired to influence the outcome of 11 tenders related to the construction and reconstruction of power grid infrastructure. Instead of competing fairly in electronic auctions, the companies coordinated their bids and behavior via telephone to decide in advance who would win specific contracts.

One documented instance involved a tender for the reconstruction of the SN-15 kV Garwolin–Żelechów power grid. Companies including EnergoTech from Lublin, PTU Elektra from Lublin, and PHU Kurpiewski from Łomża allegedly agreed that the contract would go to PHU Kurpiewski. The other participants agreed ‘not to interfere,’ meaning they would not lower their prices to compete, in exchange for future reciprocal cooperation.