“In the first quarter of 2024, gas bills in Puglia increased in many cases by 300% and in some cases even by 500%. Our local offices and the Adiconsum branches have been under attack in recent months and the telephone lines are completely clogged in some hours.”
Thus Emilio Di Conza of Adicosum Puglia regarding the increases in bills that are reaching citizens. “Only at our offices and at the branches in the Adiconsum area, we estimated around 650 telephone contacts, 250 people who came to us to read their bills and find a solution. As of March 30, 230 families have expressed their desire to make a complaint to the gas companies; 65 requests for conciliation have been initiated; 53 requests for installment payments. Data which, from our survey carried out in the world of the 16 consumer associations present in Puglia, increases by at least 10 times. Many people have expressed the need to turn to relatives, parishes and charitable associations for help.”
The desperation of many families is great, among those who are in the grip of hysteria and panic regardless of age and social class. In some cases the cost of the bill exceeds the amount of the pension or salary despite the fact that the first two months of the year were substantially mild, with temperatures above the seasonal average.
Just as many families have expressed their desire not to pay for economic reasons. Overall, the figure is destined to rise, just as energy poverty is destined to rise, a condition which in Italy affects over 2.2 million families equal to 7.7% of the total and which in Puglia affects over 16% of the population , which is almost double the national average. A growing phenomenon of families who are unable to satisfy primary needs such as cooking, lighting and heating their home, with negative consequences also on the health of elderly and vulnerable people.
It is necessary to intervene on the Arera (Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment) which must urgently introduce appropriate and adequate corrective measures to limit the ability to sell gas at any price without any limitation on the part of energy players, prohibit the possibility to unilaterally modify the contracts during construction and expiring in the absence of a certified communication sent to the user. Just as it is necessary to eliminate any charges for early withdrawal. Penalty that does not protect the user’s freedom of choice of an essential good.
