Il bill decree it is law. On Thursday the Senate Chamber approved definitively the provision – on which the government had raised the question of confidence – with 207 votes in favor and 38 against. The go-ahead came a few days after the expiry of the Legislative Decree, scheduled for April 30th.
Bills decree: what it provides
Il bill decree it contains "urgent measures to contain the costs of electricity and natural gas, to develop renewable energies and to relaunch industrial policies".
System charges on electricity and gas and VAT on gas in the bill decree
Among the various measures, the most important are two:
- the zeroing of system charges on electricity and gas for the second quarter of 2022;
- and the cut in VAT on gas is confirmed.
A new task for the Arera
Furthermore, the bill decree entrusts Arera with the task of reporting on the use of the resources destined by Palazzo Chigi to cut the general costs of electricity and gas bills. Analysis that must be sent to the Ministries of Ecological Transition and the Economy and to the Parliamentary Commissions by 16 May.
The new regulations provide for periodic reporting, distinguishing between the electricity and gas sectors, based on the issue of further cost containment measures.
The fight against energy poverty
The Ministry of Ecological Transition is then called to develop a strategy against energy poverty to be submitted to public consultation.
The GSE and renewables in the bill decree
The Energy Services Manager (GSE) will be able to purchase energy from renewable sources, through contracts of at least three years, to distribute it at a price fixed by ministerial decree as a priority to large companies, SMEs and customers in the major islands.
The bonus to companies that consume the most
And again: the bill decree recognizes companies with high electricity consumption an extraordinary contribution in the form of a tax credit equal to 20% of the expenses incurred for the energy component purchased and used in the second quarter of 2022. The bonus is also recognized in relation to energy expenditure electricity produced and self-consumed by energy-intensive companies in the second quarter of 2022. A similar measure also applies to companies with a high consumption of natural gas, which receive an extraordinary contribution in the form of a tax credit equal to 15% of the expenditure incurred for the purchase of gas, consumed in the first calendar quarter of the year 2022, for energy uses other than thermoelectric uses.
Simplifications for photovoltaic systems
The decree also launches a first substantial package of simplifications for the installation of photovoltaic systems. The more streamlined authorization procedures, or limitations of constraints, concern, among others, the upgrading of systems already installed, agricultural surfaces and historic urban areas.
The correction to the assignment of credits for building bonuses
Finally, in the bill decree a correction has also been inserted to the mechanism for the assignment of credits linked to building bonuses. An amendment approved by the House raises the number of transfers from three to four. In particular, banks and intermediaries, where they have exhausted the possible assignments, will be able to carry out a further one in favor of other subjects.
