The Non-Discrimination Obligation of Energy Network Operators European Rules and Regulatory Practice

摘要

Dr Kruimer has turned her law thesis into a book which thoroughly explores the application of the non-discrimination obligation of energy network operators at European level and in three member states-the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany. She sets out clearly in six chapters the background of the non-discrimination obligation, the enforcement of non-discrimination rules through European rules and, perhaps central to her argument, the distinction between discrimination and treating customers differently. In particular she explores when treating network users differently might not amount to discrimination. In Ch.5, Dr Kruimer outlines her argument for using an effects based approach using evidence from other sectors, in particular from competition law, telecommunications and public procurement. While the book focuses on the treatment of discrimination in competition law as applied directly to energy, application in other sectors is also relevant. Chapter 6 focuses on the legal aspects of different treatment of network users, and in Ch.7 the author compares the application of the non-discrimination principle to energy networks by examining the case law and experience in three countries. Chapter 8 provides an academic summary of the book, together with the conclusions and recommendations.