The Minister of Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani, he developed a plan to reduce gas consumption by 15%, approximately 8,2 billion cubic metres, by 31 March 2023. This is required – for the moment only on a voluntary basis – by a European regulation issued on 5 August. The objective is to manage stocks with caution, given that Russia could keep the taps turned off gas throughout the winter and alternative sources of supply are not enough.
Il Cingolani plan is divided into four points, of which, however, only the first three are quantified for save on gas and reach 8,2 billion cubic meters less.
Cingolani plan: the points
1) Push on coal, oil and bioliquids
Instead of gas, to produce electricity we will have to use at most other fuels such as coal, oil and bioliquids. On 2,1 September, with an act of direction, the Ministry of Ecological Transition asked Terna, the company that manages the Italian electricity grid, to start this maximization plan which should lead to savings of XNUMX billion cubic meters of gas .
2) Down the radiators
I radiators will need to be turned on for one hour less each day and for fewer days: condominiums with central heating will have to postpone the start-up by eight days and anticipate the shutdown of the boilers by seven. Furthermore, the temperature must be lower: 20 to 19 degrees. The new rules will apply to homes and offices (public and private), but not for hospitals and Rsa. A ministerial decree is expected by September on these measures – from which the government aims to save 3,2 billion cubic meters of gas, calculating that 79% of families adhere.
3) Tips for consuming less
The Plan also contains a series of recommendations to citizens, who however will not be subjected to checks or even less to sanctions. The government focuses on the responsibility of Italian citizens in the face of this emergency. A communication campaign will also provide useful advice for saving energy with small saving gestures: shorten shower times and limit water heating; reduce the fire under the stove when the water boils; unplug the appliances rather than leaving them on standby; start dishwashers and washing machines only with a full load. Also, some are suggested investments: electric heat pumps, solar panels, LED light bulbs, class A appliances. With these measures, the government expects to save 2,9 billion cubic meters of gas.
4) Requests to businesses
The only point on which the expected savings are not quantified is that which concerns businesses: the time needed to calculate them will be longer, also because the containment of consumption in the industrial sector will be voluntary and on this point, confirmed by the ministry, "it is open a comparison with the productive categories”. Confindustria has been asking for that for a long time big industry is exempt from rationing. The plan says it wants to act "safeguarding strategic sectors, as per the EU Regulation".
Standard & Poor's: the gas bill will increase in Europe by almost one trillion
Meanwhile, the rating agency Standard & Poor's estimates that "Europe's energy bill will exceed pre-pandemic levels by well over one trillion euros" as a result of the squeeze on Russian gas exports. "High prices will aggravate the question of who should bear this massive financial burden," reads a report by the rating agency dedicated to European utilities.
