At the end of 2011, the EU adopted new stringent rules on wholesale energy trading. The main objective is to prevent use of insider information and other forms of market abuse which distort wholesale energy prices and normally mean that businesses and consumers pay more for their energy than they need. For the first time energy trading will be screened at EU level to uncover abuses. This screening will be done by ACER. National authorities in Member States will put in place penalties to help stop and prevent market manipulation.