ROME – A moral suasion for ‘call to order’ 13 electricity and gas supplier companies on the free market because the offers advertised online do not seem to protect consumers. She decided it the Antitrust which is monitoring the transparency and completeness of the promotions especially in view of the end of the protected electricity market on June 30th. But for consumer associations it is too little, “financial sanctions” are needed, they say. The energy market is being stormed between unclear offers, aggressive teleselling, commercial practices that are not always correct on the methods of communicating contract renewals, little information for operators on the possibility of returning from the free market to the greater protection market by the end of June and thus being able to enjoy more favorable tariffs in the gradual protection service which will start from 1st July and will last until 31st March 2027.
Thus the spotlight of the Market Competition Authority was shone on Illumia, Jen Energia, Dolomiti Energia, Axpo Italia (Pulsee Luce & Gas), Ajo’ Energia, Acea Energia, Ecom-Energu Comune, Agsm Aim Energia, Hera Comm, Wekiwi, Omnia Energia, Semplice Gas & Luce, E.On Energia. The Authority led by Roberto Rustichelli found critical issues in the various cost items because the indication of some charges that make up the price of energy was missing. As for the environmental slogans, they did not provide precise information on the concrete actions carried out. And therefore the “invitation to integrate” was made so as above all to be “easily consultable”.
Codacons: “Pecuniary sanctions are needed”
“Pecuniary sanctions are needed” states Codacons, underlining that the lack of transparency and the use of “greenwashing”, i.e. the use of environmental issues to attract a segment of the public who are increasingly attentive to these aspects, “are practices that are harmful to users’ rights capable of altering the market”. The National Consumers Union insists on transparency and reminds those who want to change operator to go to Offer portal of Arera, the tariff regulation authority. The ADUC also calls for economic sanctions otherwise, “they will continue as before”. For Assoutenti, the authority should shine a spotlight on the critical issues linked to the imminent end of the protected electricity market
“The real problem is the transition from the free market to the more convenient service with gradual protections, where they reign uncertainties, poor information, obstaclesi” states the honorary president and energy manager, Furio Truzzi. On this last front, the president of the Productive Activities Commission of the Chamber, Alberto Gusmeroli, is insisting a lot and wonders whether the conditions exist for an extension of the deadline of 30 June to allow time for a fully informed choice” also because he states that “no offer on the free market is today more competitive than the protected market”.
According to an analysis by Facile.it, looking online at the best electricity offers for the free market the annual expenditure of a typical family (with consumption of 2,700 kWh) is equal to 692 euros if you opt for a variable tariff, 723 euros for one with a fixed price. Looking instead at the best offers for gas, the annual expenditure of a typical family (consumption 1,400 scm) is equal to 1,535 euros if you opt for a fixed price tariff, 1,596 euros for a variable one. The estimate of variable expenditure takes into account the forecasts on the price trend of raw materials developed by the European Energy Exchange.
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