2018 social bonus for energy consumption: let's go. Let it be clear that they have nothing to do with the M5S welfare or similar forms that are so popular. The savings due to economic and social hardship were strengthened by the outgoing government and approved by the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment (ARERA). The centre-left has saved around 190 euros a year for needy families in particular conditions. The sore point of bills that weigh on family budgets has to some extent been mitigated. What the successors at the helm of the country will do is not known, given the vagueness of the proposals of both the center-right and the grillini, in terms of energy and related social effects.
It should be clear that any action on the Italian energy system must consider the context made up of traditional sources and renewable sources and that the social benefits of the uses of each source are influenced by a long series of components. There will be a green Italy, but it's not around the corner, with all due respect to the M5S which cannot claim the national energy strategy launched by the Gentiloni government, which they strongly oppose. On the other hand, it is not clear why Salvini's League in Emilia attacks the Region on the application of the electricity tariffs approved by the Arera and valid for all of Italy.
The Municipalities have collaborated on the social bonuses and it is significant that starting in these first 15 days of March it is precisely the provinces of Reggio Emilia, Parma, Piacenza, where the mechanism for disbursing the bonus is advertised in every way. Ad hoc committees have arisen with the help of energy companies to provide as much information as possible. Everyone must be able to understand how it works and especially if you are entitled to the benefit or not. It is also significant that a large group such as Iren, deeply rooted in the Emilia Romagna area, has made all its training channels available.
The bonuses go to domestic customers with an electricity or gas contract with an ISEE indicator ranging from 8.107 to 20 euros depending on the number of family members. The discount granted varies from 125 to 184 euro for households with more than 4 people and ends up directly in the bills for 12 months after approval. The gas bonus is very similar. The maximum discount can go up to 189 euros per year based on the climatic zone referring to the gas rate and the type of consumption. Two levers that help families to contain consumption and reduce spending. Have the grillini thought of linking the bonuses to their disclosed basic income? Will the income distribution mechanism affect the ISEE, compromising the efficiency of the energy bonuses?
In any case, as was said, the minimum values for both electricity and gas take into account the decisions of the Energy Authority approved for 2018. In the bonus system, the central role is played by the Municipalities who must accept the questions and manage with the supply companies. Many Municipalities are equipped or have delegated the acceptance of requests to other territorial structures, such as Cafs. Consumer associations for their part provide assistance in a framework of sharing that for 2019 could also fail to the detriment of the less well-off.
