The Office for the Protection of Competition in the Czech Republic has launched a sector inquiry aimed at understanding the dynamics of publicly accessible charging stations for electric vehicles. This inquiry will assess the wholesale electricity supply conditions and the operational framework of these charging stations, as well as consumer behavior in this sector.

Chief Economist Martin Machay highlighted concerns regarding the high concentration of charging station operators, many of which are vertically integrated. This concentration raises questions about the competitive landscape in a rapidly evolving market. The authority's analysis indicates that consumers may face challenges in navigating the pricing structures, which vary significantly across different networks and are often higher than the retail price of electricity.

The inquiry will analyze data from 2020 to mid-2025, divided into three phases. The first phase involves consultations to evaluate market functioning, focusing on both vertical relationships between electricity suppliers and charging service providers, as well as horizontal relationships among charging station operators. The second phase will involve collecting relevant data from stakeholders, followed by a third phase that will scrutinize identified competition issues.

The primary objective of the inquiry is to determine whether there are any distortions or failures of competition in the market for publicly accessible charging stations in the Czech Republic and to identify their underlying causes.