Media: Electricity and gas bills in Italy could rise sharply

ROME, Sep 27 – PRIME. Electricity bills in Italy could rise by 60% in October, without government support the jump could become twofold, according to the newspaper la Stampa, citing estimates from the energy research center Nomisma.

In this case, the cost of electricity will increase by 25 euro cents per kilowatt/hour compared to the third quarter of the year.

As for gas, estimates suggest a 70% increase in tariffs in late October and early November.

Nomisma indicates in this regard that the State Energy, Grid and Environment Regulatory Authority (Arera) will publish updated energy tariff estimates by the end of September.

At the same time, Nomisma notes that Italy has almost reached its goal of filling its gas storage facilities by 90%. At the same time, even such a level of reserves does not eliminate the threat of restrictions on consumption in February-March in the event of a cessation of gas supplies from Russia.

At the beginning, Italy adopted an energy savings plan that is designed to cut nationwide gas consumption by 5.3 billion cubic meters. In 2021, consumption in Italy amounted to 76 billion cubic meters. According to this plan, the heating season in Italy in houses with central systems will be reduced by 15 days. The regulation also prescribes to reduce the temperature by 1 degree when heating buildings.

After the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, Western countries began to impose sanctions against the Russian Federation, in particular, on Russian energy resources. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the policy of containing and weakening Russia is a long-term strategy for the West, and sanctions have dealt a serious blow to the entire global economy.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak said earlier that Russia has never used energy resources as a weapon, for many decades the Russian Federation has been their reliable supplier to world markets.