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Since 1 May 2004 not only the European Commission, but also the Office of Fair Trading
(OFT) has the power to apply and enforce Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty in the
United Kingdom.

The OFT also has the power to apply and enforce the Competition Act
1998. In relation to the regulated sectors the same provisions are applied and enforced,
concurrently with the OFT, by the regulators for communications matters, gas, electricity,
water and sewerage, railway and air traffic services (under section 54 and schedule 10 of
the Competition Act 1998) (the Regulators). Throughout the guidelines, references to the
OFT should be taken to include the Regulators in relation to their respective industries,
unless otherwise specified.

The following are the Regulators:
• the Office of Communications (OFCOM)
• the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (OFGEM)
• the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation (OFREG NI)
• the Director General of Water Services (OFWAT)
• the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), and
• the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Section 52 of the Competition Act 1998 obliges the OFT to prepare and publish general
advice and information about the application and enforcement by the OFT of Articles 81
and 82 of the EC Treaty and the Chapter I and Chapter II prohibitions contained in the
Competition Act 1998. This guideline is intended to explain these provisions to those
who are likely to be affected by them and to indicate how the OFT expects them to
operate. Further information on how the OFT has applied and enforced competition law in
particular cases may be found in the OFT's decisions, as available on its website from
time to time.

This guideline is not a substitute for the EC Treaty nor for regulations made under
it. Neither is it a substitute for European Commission notices and guidelines.
Furthermore, this guideline is not a substitute for the Competition Act 1998 or the
Enterprise Act 2002 and the regulations and orders made under those Acts. It
should be read in conjunction with these legal instruments, Community case law
and United Kingdom case law. Anyone in doubt about how they may be affected
by the EC Treaty, the Competition Act 1998 or the Enterprise Act 2002 should seek
legal advice.

In addition to its obligations under Community law, when dealing with questions in
relation to competition within the United Kingdom arising under Part I of the Competition
Act 1998, the OFT will act in accordance with section 60 of that Act.

Read the full document here: http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/ca98_guidelines/oft408.pdf