(Teleborsa) – According to what was established by Arera, from 1 April 2024 the electricity bill will drop by 19.8% in the protected market. “Excellent news. An expected drop and yet another demonstration, if any were still needed, that the protected market has a key role in reflecting the true market price and, therefore, in this case, intercepting price reductions first and forcing the free market to adapt, albeit with considerable delay. The free market offers which today are more convenient than the enhanced protection service, in fact, when they exist, they can literally be counted on the fingers of one hand. According to the estimates of prices per kilowatt hour announced yesterday by the president of Arera, Besseghini, in 2024 those in the free sector will pay on average 135 euros more than those who remained in the protected area. A chasm,” he commented Marco Vignolavice president ofNational Consumers Union.
The honorary president and energy manager of Assoutenti, Fury Truzzihowever, recalled that despite the drop in the cost of the bill, “starting from next July 1st, with the arrival of the Gradual Protection Service (Stg) and the discounts guaranteed by the auctions last January, an absurd paradox will arise: vulnerable users who remain in the protected market will pay a higher average bill than the Stg. Those who have switched to the free energy market and want to enjoy the advantages of gradual protection from 1 July will necessarily have to return to the Greater Protection by 30 June, as there is no direct transition from free to Stg. Anomalies that the Government and Arera must resolve as soon as possible.”
With the reduction in tariffs ordered today by Arera for the next quarter, electricity bills on the protected market finally return to 2021 levels, before the outbreak of the energy crisis that hit our country”, underlined the Codacons.
“Compared to the same period last year (II quarter), the tariffs ofelectric energy they will be lower by 14.8%, and even lower by -51% compared to the second quarter of 2022, when Italy was in full crisis powerand from next April 1st they will return to 2021 levels – explains Codacons – However, this is savings hypothetical because, as is known, from next July 1st the protected electricity market will end, and the gradual protection service will begin for those who have not chosen a free market operator and are not vulnerable users”.
“The real problem now is energy prices on the free market, where tariffs are still high and there is no real competition between operators – explains the president Carlo Rienzi – The trend in energy prices must lead to a rapid decrease in tariffs in this sector too, so that the advantages are for all consumers, not for those who still reside in the greater protection regime”.
(Photo: © Andrii Yalanskyi | 123RF)
