Italians unable to pay for energy offered legal assistance

ROME, Sep 15 – PRIME. The Italian consumer protection organization Codacons has launched a public initiative “Receipts Strike”, offering the population legal assistance in case of impossibility to pay bills for electricity and gas.

The “We’ll pay as soon as we can” campaign allows consumers to download and fill out a document that, when sent to a service provider, will supposedly only pay 20% of the total bill.

According to Codacons, the social solidarity initiative complies with the provisions of the Civil Code and the constitution of the Italian Republic. Postponement of payments in such a case is explained by “force majeure circumstances”, in accordance with national legislation.

Codacons warns that, according to the forecasts of the Institute for Research, Consumption, Environment and Education (Ircaf), from the beginning of October, Italians can expect a twofold increase in the cost of electricity and gas. The annual item of such expenses for an average family runs the risk of growing to almost 3.5 thousand euros, an increase of more than one and a half times.