On 13 June 2012, the Commission announced its decision to open formal proceedings to investigate a suspected abuse of dominance by Deutsche Bahn. The Commission’s investigation focuses on the prices for traction current charged by Deutsche Bahn’s subsidiary, DB Energie GmbH, the only supplier of traction current in Germany. Traction current is a type of electricity required to move electric locomotives and trains on the railway network. In Germany, traction current needs to be supplied at a specific frequency which differs from the frequency of the general electricity network. The Commission is particularly concerned whether discounts granted by DB Energie to railway undertakings in Germany have led to higher prices for Deutsche Bahn’s competitors, placing them at a competitive disadvantage on the rail freight and passenger markets. Read more.