One sentence summary: On 4 May 2010 the European Commission (the Commission) rendered legally binding commitments by German energy supplier E.ON including inter alia the commitment to release by 1 October 2010 capacities at different entry points relating to 15 per cent of the group’s entire gas pipeline capacity and to reduce its bookings of entry capacities in the H-gas grid to 50 per cent and in its L-gas grid to 64 per cent by 1 October 2015.
Abstract: In this decision the Commission has avoided exposing itself to criticism that it tries to achieve ownership unbundling in energy markets by improper use of commitment decisions. The imposed commitments will likely improve the market structure in the German gas transport market especially when complemented by measures of the Federal Cartel Office (FCO) or the German legislator to achieve further competition at corresponding exit points.