Gas bills for vulnerable customers in Italy have increased by 9.1% in October compared to September, according to data released by Arera, the Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment. The regulator attributes this sharp rise to a significant increase in wholesale market quotations. For approximately 2.3 million customers still covered by the vulnerability protection service, the price of the natural gas raw material alone has reached €88.36 per megawatt-hour.
Arera detailed that the reference price for a typical new customer, defined as a household with annual consumption of 1,100 cubic meters, stands at 176.80 cents per cubic meter. This total is composed of several distinct costs: 97.06 cents (54.9% of the bill) for natural gas supply and related activities; 5.83 cents (3.3%) for retail sales; 27.25 cents (15.41%) for transport, meter management, distribution services, and quality; 4.98 cents (2.82%) for system charges; and 41.68 cents (23.57%) in taxes.
Consumer associations have reacted strongly to the update. Codacons described the situation as a severe blow to Italian energy consumption, calculating that the annual cost for a vulnerable household has risen from €163 to a higher figure under constant price assumptions. The association notes that the average annual gas bill is now €1,945, which, when combined with an electricity bill of €868.60, brings the total energy cost for a vulnerable user to €2,813.60.
Marco Vignola, Vice President of the National Consumers' Union, labeled the figures a historical record, stating that gas prices including taxes have never been this high. He noted that the previous peak recorded in December 2022, following the outbreak of the War in Ukraine, has now fallen to third place. Similarly, Assoutenti warned of a new blow to consumers, highlighting that this marks the sixth consecutive monthly increase for vulnerable users. President Gabriele Melluso emphasized that this trend aggravates energy spending for the most fragile subjects and serves as an alarm ahead of the coming months when household gas consumption is expected to rise.
Sources: ANSA Economia.