I'm coming savings for almost 2,7 billion on electricity bill, of which about 1,7 for the benefit of SMEs and one for consumers. The Ministry of Economic Development writes it, underlining that "the commitment that the Government has undertaken to promote competitiveness through the reduction of system charges that weigh on the electricity bill has been successful and the effects are already in black and white".
According to the ministry, for businesses the lower outlay determined by the "bill cut" will amount to 910 million while for families it will be 313 million. The additional measures launched will have a positive impact of 771 million on companies and 694 million on consumers.
“These are very positive numbers – commented the Minister of Economic Development, Federica Guidi – the measures implemented to affect the energy costs of companies together with the very encouraging signals that come from investments in new machinery represent further proof that the government's choices for increasing the competitiveness of businesses go in the right direction”.
The maneuver is the result of several concomitant factors and, explains the Mise press release, "it will unfold its overall effects, gradually, during 2015. Further reductions in spending will derive, in addition to the package in favor of SMEs, from other measures on regulated components of the bill and pro-competition interventions on the electricity market". The reference is to Competition law which the ministry is preparing and which should be discussed by the Council of Ministers on February 20, which provides for the abolition of the enhanced protection regime for families and small businesses, fully liberalizing the market.
“Consumers also benefit – continues the press release – from drop in fuel prices used for the production of electricity and a reduction in the cost of dispatching. The Electricity and Gas Authority estimates that the two phenomena will affect the expenditure of a typical household (3 kW of power used and consumption equal to 2700 kWh/year) by approximately 3% in the first quarter. One comes from it scenario of overall reduction of the energy bill, with significant effects for the benefit of the competitiveness of businesses and household incomes. There reduction for non-energy-intensive SMEs it is even more significant: on an annual basis it is estimated at around 8-10% on average, although there may be differences between companies”.
