The exemption from the renewables contribution granted to energy-intensive businesses has reopened debate over the costs borne by families. The Consumer Advice Bureau (Sportello Consumatori) is calling for savings measures to be extended to domestic users as well, with particular attention to households facing the greatest financial strain.
The statement follows a decision by the Authority for the Regulation of Public Services and Energy which, on a proposal from AASS, will exempt energy-intensive companies from the FER contribution starting next October — a levy used to fund incentives for renewable energy.
The association acknowledges the need to safeguard business competitiveness by lowering energy costs, but stresses that action should also be taken to support citizens. «Savings measures should also be introduced for citizens, particularly for the many families struggling with the rising cost of living», the statement reads.
Noting that the renewables fund is currently in surplus and that the new measure will take effect on 1 October, the Consumer Advice Bureau is urging AASS and the relevant Secretariat of State to explore a reduction of the FER contribution for household users too. The association is also calling for renewed incentives for solar panel installation, local renewable energy production, and building energy efficiency upgrades.
The Consumer Advice Bureau also returns to the issue of social tariffs for water, electricity and gas. According to the association, in recent years several families have been excluded from these benefits because gross income, rather than taxable income, was used to assess eligibility against the threshold.
Delegated Decree no. 117 of 10 August introduced new criteria, reaffirming taxable income under the ordinary tax regime as the reference measure. According to the association, however, these changes would not be enough to significantly widen the pool of beneficiaries.
«Nearly all the families who actually need social tariffs will remain excluded», the Consumer Advice Bureau argues, citing as an example three-person households with a single income from employment at the most common contractual levels in the private sector.
The association has finally announced that it will request a meeting with the relevant Secretary of State, with the aim of securing a revision of the eligibility requirements when the decree comes up for ratification by the Grand and General Council (Consiglio Grande e Generale).
