EU antitrust regulators have carried out "unannounced inspections" on energy companies in six EU countries on suspicion of abusing their market power. The raids targeted gas groups in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy and electricity firms in Hungary. The inspections mark the first step in probes into suspected anti-competitive practices. The UK energy regulator Ofgem commented that the European Commission "is now demonstrably serious about tackling anti-competitive practices in the European energy markets".