Spending on electricity will not increase in the first quarter of 2019. Indeed, there will be a slight drop in bill for the typical family - which records average electricity consumption of 2.700 kWh per year - with a change in overall expenditure of -0.08% compared to the previous quarter, as stated in the official note from ARERA, the Regulatory Authority for Energy Networks and Environment.
This variation is due to a decrease “in the component covering costs for the procurement of raw materials (-5,32% on expenditure for the typical customer). However, the reduction was offset by an increase in expenditure for system charges of +5.% and in transport and meter management tariffs, of +0,24%.
The decline in the raw material component for electricity is determined by various factors, including: the decline in the international prices of energy commodities after the strong growth recorded in the summer months, the consequent reduction in the price of natural gas - strengthened by the greater availability of supply of liquefied gas in Europe – and the halting of the upward trend in the prices of CO2 emission permits which, however, continue to experience marked volatility, also due to the effect of excess supply which the market has not yet reabsorbed.
As far as gas is concerned, on the other hand, from 1 January there will be a +2,3% increase in bills, linked to the dynamics of quotations on the wholesale markets and to the increase in general gas charges.
For natural gas, the increase in spending on raw materials (+0,9% on spending by the typical household) linked to the prices expected on the wholesale markets in the next quarter, is accompanied by an increase of general charges, expected at +1%, and a slight adjustment of transport, distribution and metering tariffs – +0,4%.
For electricity, the estimated expenditure, gross of taxes, for the typical family in the rolling year - between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019 - will be 560,2 euros, with a change of +4,7 % compared to the equivalent 12 months of the previous year and corresponding to an increase of approximately 25 euro/year. In the same period, the typical household's expenditure for the gas bill will be around 1.150 euros, with a variation of +10% compared to the equivalent 12 months of the previous year, corresponding to around 105 euros/year.
