Social tariffs for electricity, gas and water with new eligibility criteria, plus a year of free fibre-optic internet for families meeting certain income requirements. This is the package of measures presented this morning by the San Marino government and the State’s Autonomous Public Utilities Company (Azienda Autonoma di Stato per i Servizi Pubblici, A.A.S.S.).
The measures stem from collaboration between the Secretariat of State for Labour and Relations with A.A.S.S. and the Secretariat of State for Industry and Telecommunications, together with A.A.S.S. The declared goal is to ease the financial burden on households while simultaneously making it easier to access connectivity.
On the first front, the system for obtaining discounts on domestic gas, electricity and water bills is changing. The threshold has been set at an annual per capita household income of €9,000 or less. The calculation will include income subject to ordinary taxation, exempt income, and income subject to separate taxation.
It will also be possible to deduct rent paid on a primary residence up to a maximum of €4,000, along with the portion of interest paid on mortgages for a first home, within the limits set by current regulations.
“We are strengthening the protective effectiveness of public services for households facing greater economic fragility,” said Secretary of State Alessandro Bevitori. “The operational convergence and shared purpose achieved at Palazzo Mercuri between the two secretariats and A.A.S.S. was by no means a given. It reflects a clear political will: to work as a team in order to calibrate support fairly and precisely. A.A.S.S. does not perform a merely industrial function. It represents the operational arm through which the country ensures dignity, inclusion and universal access to essential goods.”
The system is expected to eventually be linked with the ICEE (the Equivalent Economic Condition Indicator), incorporating the social tariffs among the benefits covered by that framework.
“We are closely following the gradual integration with the ICEE regulations,” explains Raoul Chiaruzzi, director of the Department of Labour and Cooperation. “As soon as the IT systems are fully operational, users will be able to submit a single, unified application. One step will be enough to certify income status and request the available forms of assistance.”
Free fibre for a year
The second part of the initiative concerns free access to the internet through the public fibre-optic network. A.A.S.S. will provide one-year subscriptions as part of its agreements with licensed operators.
Priority will be given to families who meet the requirements for social tariffs. Failing that, the measure may also apply to households with dependent children and an annual per capita income of €12,000 or less.
“Having a fast connection has now become essential for studying, working, accessing public administration services and pursuing education,” said Secretary of State Rossano Fabbri. “We are bringing social policy and technological strategy together within a single system. I want to express my sincere thanks to the private operators in the sector, in particular TMS and Telenet, whose willingness and cooperation were key to making this agreement possible. Public fibre thus becomes a shared asset at the service of the community.”
The Department of Economic Development also highlighted the social value of internet access. “Framing the internet as an essential tool of citizenship marks a significant step forward. This is just a beginning — the start of a broader process that we intend to consolidate over time,” noted director Simona Bollini.
A.A.S.S. will now need to define, through its own regulations, the practical procedures for submitting requests and obtaining the benefits. The company will coordinate with telephone operators, while eligibility will be verified using public administration information portals and through cooperation with the Central Bank’s Tax Collection Department.
A.A.S.S. president Renzo Giardi also pointed to the ongoing investments in the country’s infrastructure: “Alongside ultra-broadband, A.A.S.S. is carrying out a continuous programme of investment in the country’s vital infrastructure, from water to electricity, from gas to renewable energy sources. The fundamental purpose of this planning is to achieve the greatest possible self-sufficiency in supply and to keep costs under control. Our primary objective remains to offer consumers a final price that is as fair and contained as possible. Further strategic projects will soon see the light of day.”
“We are turning A.A.S.S.’s operational capacity into a concrete benefit for people,” concluded general director Marcello Forcellini. “Protection from tariff spikes and closing the digital divide go hand in hand. We will set up application procedures that are straightforward, transparent and easy to verify, ensuring quick and effective access for all eligible families.”
