La Jornada: Gas companies are required to repair damages to consumers

The National Antitrust Commission (CNA) filed a class action lawsuit with the aim of 53 liquefied petroleum gas (LP) distribution companies that colluded for more than 10 years in Mexico City, the state of Mexico and different locations in Colima, Tamaulipas and Sinaloa to repair the damages caused to affected consumers.

In a statement, the organization indicated that this action is the result of the discovery and sanction of an agreement in which Grupo Soni, Grupo Simsa, Grupo Nieto, Grupo Tomza, Grupo Global Gas and Gas Metropolitano colluded to manipulate prices and share customers.

As a result of these illegal behaviors, surcharges were charged that resulted in damage to consumers of more than 13 billion pesos.

“As a result of the above, the CNA decided to present this class action lawsuit so that, in addition to the administrative fines imposed, the offenders repair the damage caused to society,” he indicated.

They ask for discounts

He explained that LP gas is used in eight out of every 10 Mexican homes, according to the National Survey on Energy Consumption in Private Homes. Therefore, the effects on this market impact the daily spending of millions of people.

“The objective of this lawsuit is that the offenders be sentenced to grant discounts on the price of LP gas to all consumers in the affected areas, which would allow true repair of the damage,” he emphasized.