Business · Energy & Commodities · 10 hrs ago
Electricity group opposes possible extension of Italy’s gradual protections
Italy’s energy ministry is considering extending the temporary electricity service until December 2027 for customers moving toward the open market.
The service, called gradual protections, currently has a 31 March 2027 end date.
It covers non-vulnerable households and some small businesses, while vulnerable customers have a separate protected service.
Under the current plan, customers who do not choose a market offer by the deadline would move automatically to their supplier’s lowest estimated-cost offer, with no interruption or early-exit fee.
Elettricità Futura, an electricity industry association, says the proposed extension could change the terms of completed auctions and cost power companies hundreds of millions of euros.
It also argues the delay could confuse nearly three million customers and would not shield them from price changes, since service prices vary.
The ministry is considering the extension to give households more time to compare offers, but the government has not announced a final decision.
Elettricità Futura opposes a possible extension of Italy’s gradual protections electricity service to 31 December 2027.
The group asks the government to keep the current end date of 31 March 2027.
The Environment and Energy Security Ministry is studying an extension to give non-vulnerable household customers more time to choose a free-market offer.
Elettricità Futura says extending the service could alter completed auctions, create costs for electricity companies and confuse nearly 3 million customers.
Under current rules, customers who do not choose a free-market offer by 31 March 2027 would move automatically to an offer from their current supplier.
- Who
- Elettricità Futura opposes the possible extension; the Environment and Energy Security Ministry is considering it.
- What
- The ministry is studying extending the gradual protections electricity service to 31 December 2027. Elettricità Futura wants the current 31 March 2027 deadline retained.
- When
- The current service deadline is 31 March 2027; the proposed extension would run through 31 December 2027.
- Where
- Italy.
- Why
- The ministry aims to give non-vulnerable household customers more time to assess free-market offers. Elettricità Futura says the extension could change completed auction terms, impose costs and confuse customers.
Elettricità Futura
Environment and Energy Security Ministry
Purpose of extension
Elettricità Futura
The extension is unnecessary; customers need clear rules and information, and the current deadline should stand.
Environment and Energy Security Ministry
The extension would give non-vulnerable household customers more time to assess offers and choose a supplier.
Effects on customers
Elettricità Futura
It could confuse nearly 3 million customers and would not shield them from price volatility.
Environment and Energy Security Ministry
It would allow customers who have not chosen a free-market offer to remain temporarily on existing or more advantageous conditions.
The first scheduled information notices to customers are due.
Customers are due to receive a summary notice with the selected offer’s terms.
The gradual protections service is currently scheduled to end.
Under current rules, customers who have not chosen an offer would move to a free-market offer from their current supplier.
The ministry is considering extending the service until this date.
- Current end date
- 31 March 2027
- Proposed extension end date
- 31 December 2027
- Customers potentially affected
- Nearly 3 million
- Automatic offer selection
- The current supplier’s free-market offer with the lowest estimated annual cost among those available in December 2026
- Minimum offer term
- 12 months
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