Renewed support for families and businesses for electricity and natural gas

The Official Gazette No. 149 of June 28, 2021, published the urgent provisions to support families and businesses for the purchase of electricity and natural gas based on Decree-Law No. 79 of June 28, 2023.

The decree-law recognizes benefits related to tariffs for the supply of electricity and natural gas for economically disadvantaged domestic customers and domestic customers in serious health conditions as per the decree of the Minister of Economic Development of December 28, 2007, published in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No.

41 of February 18, 2008, based on the ISEE value referred to in Article 1, paragraph 17, of Law No. 197 of December 29, 2022.

To this end, to contain the effects of price increases in the natural gas sector, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment has kept the rates at zero for the tariff components relating to general system charges for the gas sector.

Also with Decree-Law No. 79, for the supply of methane gas used as fuel for civil and industrial uses, by way of derogation from the provisions of the Presidential Decree of October 26, 1972, No. 633, the invoices issued for estimated or actual consumption for the months of July, August, and September 2023, are subject to a 5% VAT rate.

If the billed consumption includes only estimated consumption, the 5% rate will also be applied to the actual consumption calculated later. The benefits for electricity and natural gas also apply to the supply of services and district heating, as well as the supply of thermal energy produced with methane gas.

Entry into force

The deadline for the adoption of regulations for the reorganization of structures and units for social benefits, regarding support for families and businesses for energy and gas, will be June 30, 2023.

This decree enters into force the day after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic, that is, June 29, 2023.

Summary of electricity and gas bonus measures for families

In detail, Decree-Law No. 79 of June 28, 2023, which the Council of Ministers published in the Official Gazette No. 149 of June 28, 2023, concerns these three measures:

• electricity and gas social bonus for customers with ISEE up to €15,000 or up to €30,000 for families with more than four children.
• reduction of the VAT rate to 5% for the supply of methane gas used for combustion for civil and industrial uses.
• elimination of system charges related to natural gas.