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What Is a Utilities Contracting Authority (Sektorenauftraggeber, Germany)?
This is a German procurement term. A contracting authority operating in one of the utilities sectors, such as water, energy or transport.
Who is a Sektorenauftraggeber?
A contracting authority or a private company with special or exclusive rights that carries out a utilities activity, such as a municipal energy company or a railway operator.
Which rules apply?
The SektVO above the EU thresholds for utilities. Below them, the entity's own rules apply, and purely private sector entities may not be bound at all.
Why the different regime?
Because utilities operate in markets and need more flexibility than public administration, while still being subject to competition rules where they hold privileged positions.
