EU tests EDF commitments in electricity market

BRUSSELS, Nov 4 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Wednesday it would market-test commitments offered by French utility giant EDF (EDF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) to boost competition and had invited interested parties to give their views. The European Union competition watchdog said it was concerned that EDF, through its contracting practices, may have hindered the entry and expansion of competitors on the market for retail supplies of electricity to large industrial users.

EDF has offered to ensure that competitors could compete for on average 65 percent of the electricity it contracts with large industrial users in France each year, the EU executive said.

"The proposed commitments could ensure that actual and potential competitors on the French electricity market could compete on an equal footing for the supply of electricity to industrial customers," EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement.

Interested parties have until Dec. 5 to comment. (Reporting by Bate Felix; Editing by Dale Hudson)