The extensions of the Government to the tenders for the assignment of the service of gas distribution they represent a major obstacle to reform of the sector and a risk for competition and consumers. This was stated by the Electricity, Gas and Water System Authority and the Competition and Market Guarantor Authority, informing the Government and Parliament of the problems and risks that the sector risks incurring.
The delay in the tenders, due to the Milleproroghe, is delaying the reform of the internal natural gas market which should, by adhering to the European directive, eliminate the current municipal concessions by entrusting the service to minimum territorial areas (ATEM) and no longer to individual municipalities.
In this framework, according to the Authorities, the need arose for some lines of regulatory intervention to accelerate the implementation of the reform process of the system for awarding gas distribution concessions.
To ensure compliance with the new deadlines, and maximize participation and regularity of the tenders, the Authorities propose to rationalize and simplify the procedures, also reintroducing the sanctioning mechanisms in the event of non-compliance with the deadlines for the publication of the tenders and eliminating some barriers to participate in the procedures.
The main objective of these measures is the protection of the interests of the final customers, thanks to the containment of the costs that will be recognized in the tariff, with a more decisive push towards the effective execution of the tenders in conditions of transparency and competition.
