(Finance) – Gas and electricity prices are falling againdespite new wholesale price records after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The second quarter of 2022 will see a reduction for the typical family with a protection contract equal to -10.2% for the electricity bill (first reduction after six quarters) and equal to -10% for the gas bill (first time after seven quarters). This was announced tonight by ARERA in the usual quarterly update of rates.
“In an objectively extraordinary situation, with an ongoing conflict and unprecedented volatility on the energy markets and in light of the greater responsibility for verification and control attributed to it, the Authority has decided to adopt extraordinary measures in favor of consumers, both for the protected that for the free market, “he says Stefano Besseghinipresident of ARERA.
Different calculation method adopted
The Authority has modified a tariff component which allows a compensation of marketing costs of gas. A reduction measure, to the benefit of all customers, which is applied to the consumption range up to 5 thousand cubic meters / year.
The intervention creates the context within which to exploit the possible effects in support of end customers of the monitoring of natural gas import contracts, which the Authority will now be able to carry out on the basis of the provisions of the recent decree-law no.21 / 2022.
Reduction obtained thanks to government intervention
The overall reduction in bills, both for electricity and gas, was also possible thanks to government interventions. The Authority has in fact confirmed on the basis of the latest “Ukraine Bis” decree the cancellation of charges general system in the bill in the next quarter and the reduction of VAT on gas to 5% for the quarter. A maneuver that makes it possible to lighten the bill for almost 30 million households and over 6 million businesses.
With the same decree, the Government allocated the resources that allow the Authority to confirm the enhancement of the social bonus for the next quarter and for a greater number of families in difficulty, thanks to the raising of the ISEE limit level for access to 12 thousand people (20,000 if families with more than 3 children). The beneficiary families, with the so-called Ukraine bis decree, thus became over 3 million for the electricity bonus and over 2 million for the gas bonus.
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