【发展之道】 公用事业领域反垄断旨在守护公共利益

Core Viewpoint - The State Administration for Market Regulation has released a draft guideline on antitrust measures in the public utility sector, aiming to clarify the boundaries of acceptable behavior for operators and address issues of market dominance abuse [1][2]. Group 1: Antitrust Guidelines - The draft guideline is comprehensive, systematic, and authoritative, providing significant guidance for public utility operators to avoid monopolistic behaviors that could harm public interests and their own businesses [2]. - It enhances the enforcement capabilities of local antitrust departments, providing a legal basis for addressing monopolistic practices in the public utility sector [2]. - The guideline aims to offer reference points for the public and media to monitor monopolistic behaviors in the public utility sector [2]. Group 2: Market Abuse and Compliance - The public utility sector is characterized by natural monopoly attributes, necessitating clear definitions of what constitutes natural versus malicious monopolistic behavior [2]. - The draft guideline details considerations for abusive practices such as unfair pricing and bundling, marking a significant advancement in regulatory clarity [2]. - Stakeholders, including consumers, related businesses, and regulatory bodies, are encouraged to contribute suggestions to improve the guideline [2]. Group 3: Enforcement Challenges - Local antitrust departments face challenges in accurately identifying and fairly enforcing against monopolistic behaviors in the public utility sector [3]. - There is a concern that some local departments may hesitate to act against monopolistic practices, which could lead to the infringement of public interests [3]. - The responsibility of antitrust departments is emphasized, highlighting the need for proactive measures against market dominance abuse [3].