Business · Energy & Commodities · 1 day ago
Italy to advance electricity bill decree after accounting delay
Italy’s government plans to advance a decree to lower electricity bills at a cabinet meeting on Monday.
Its main measure would cap the gas price used to generate electricity, which could lower wholesale electricity prices and household and business bills.
The proposed cap is 58.9 euros per megawatt-hour, and the European Commission has already agreed to it.
Approval was delayed last week over a separate accounting issue: the decree would use money from selling stored gas in 2026 to cut energy-intensive businesses’ gas bills in 2027.
The Economy Ministry is discussing how to resolve this timing issue with the European Union, and the government says it is technical rather than a problem with funding or state aid.
Estimates of the savings differ: a business group says companies’ electricity bills could fall by up to 10%, while climate think tank Ecco estimates savings of just 1.4 euros a month.
Italy’s government plans to send its electricity bill decree to the Council of Ministers on Monday without substantial changes.
Approval was delayed by a state accounting issue involving a measure to use gas sale proceeds to reduce energy-intensive businesses’ gas bills in 2027.
The decree’s main measure, a cap on gas prices for electricity production, is not affected by the delay.
Confcommercio estimates the decree could cut businesses’ electricity bills by up to 10%, while climate think tank Ecco estimates savings of just €1.40 a month.
- Who
- The Italian government.
- What
- It plans to advance an electricity bill decree without substantial changes after approval was delayed by an accounting issue.
- When
- The decree is expected to go to the Council of Ministers on Monday; the article was published on November 7, 2026.
- Where
- Italy.
- Why
- The previous delay followed a state accounting concern about the timing of gas-sale revenue and planned spending.
Confcommercio
Ecco
Estimated savings
Confcommercio
Confcommercio says the decree could cut businesses’ electricity bills by up to 10%.
Ecco
Ecco estimates savings of just €1.40 a month.
The Council of Ministers’ approval of the decree was delayed over a state accounting concern.
ANSA reported that the government planned to submit the decree to the Council of Ministers on Monday without substantial changes.
The decree is due to go to the Council of Ministers.
- Gas price cap
- €58.9 per megawatt-hour
- Proposed gas sale proceeds
- Proceeds from selling gas stored in 2022 in 2026 would be used to reduce energy-intensive businesses’ gas bills in 2027
- Confcommercio estimate
- Up to 10% reduction in businesses’ electricity bills
- Ecco estimate
- €1.40 a month in savings