From July 1st 2024, the greater protection service for electricity will end, and this will undeniably mark an important transition for Italian consumers, who will have to pay even more attention to scams. Indeed, this change implies that, with some exceptions, citizens will have to choose a supplier on the free market.
As the fateful date approaches, there is a clear increase in calls from call centers offering electricity contracts, often with potential risks of fraud.
Who are the vulnerable customers
According to Arera, vulnerable customers are those who find themselves in specific socioeconomic or health conditions. For gas, this category includes those over 75, those with recognized disabilities or those living in emergency accommodation.
For electricity, in addition to these categories, those who need medical-therapeutic equipment powered by electricity and the inhabitants of smaller, non-interconnected islands are also considered vulnerable.
What changes from July 1st
From 1 July 2024, those who do not belong to the category of vulnerable customers and have not signed a contract on the free market will automatically be included in the “Gradual Protection Service”. This service, set up by Arera, will ensure continuous supply during the transition to the free market, with an expected duration until 31 March 2027.
Placet offers: what they are and what they consist of
The Placet offers, introduced by law no. 124/2017, they are mandatory for all energy sellers. These proposals include a fixed or variable tariff, with contractual conditions standardized by Arera. During the gradual protection service, these offers will be applied to non-vulnerable customers, which include bimonthly invoicing and the absence of guarantees for those who opt for payment via bank or postal direct debit.
How to protect yourself from electricity and gas bill scams
As the end of the protected market approaches, the risk of telephone and door-to-door scams has increased. To protect yourself, it is advisable not to accept telephone or door-to-door proposals, and never, under any circumstances, provide the Pod and Pdr numbers present on the bill.
Furthermore, signing up to the Opposition Register can help reduce unwanted calls, but if these continue, it is absolutely necessary to report the problem to the Privacy Guarantor.
Below is some information on how to protect yourself from scams:
- In case of suspicious calls, do not answer “yes” to avoid the registration being manipulated to activate unwanted contracts
- Hang up immediately: If the operator seems suspicious or insistent, hang up the phone without hesitation
- If you receive a visit from alleged representatives of the energy company, you should never open the door or provide personal information and, if in doubt, do not sign any documents.
To avoid scams:
- Consult official websites: visit your energy company’s website to check the offers available
- Contact official numbers: only use the telephone numbers provided by the company to communicate any changes or requests for information
The most common scams on electricity and gas bills
One of the most common scams is that of fake call centers, where fake operators pose as employees of well-known energy companies to obtain personal or financial information. These scammers can use slurred speech and pushy tones to convince victims to reveal sensitive data.
The email scams (phishing) are becoming more and more frequent. Scammers send emails appearing to come from your energy supplier, asking you to enter personal details on fake websites to get refunds or avoid having your supply disconnected.
The scammers show up at the victims’ homes pretending to be technical those in charge of checking meters or verifying bills. They use this excuse to gain access to personal information or to get people to sign unsolicited contracts
Extremely cheap energy offers can hide unfavorable clauses or hidden costs. These misleading advertisements they can arrive via email, telephone or other channels.
On the phone, scammers try to make the user say words like “yes” or “I confirm”, then recording the approval of a new supply contract. This technique is known as the “yes scam”.
