The extraordinary measure for the two-year period 2026-2027 begins: for the “bill bonus”, no applications to be submitted, but the contribution will only be recognized by energy suppliers who join the initiative
The operational phase of the new extraordinary bill bonus for the two-year period 2026-2027 is underway. Nothing to do with the traditional social bonus, but it is a measure that provides one discount on the bill up to a maximum of 60 euros. It is based on objective requirements (ISEE and consumption), it is automatic, but energy sellers can join or not, it is not mandatory. They have time to decide until August 31st and only those who choose to participate will apply the contribution to their customers, starting from the August consumption bills.
What is the contribution and who can receive it
The voluntary extraordinary contribution is one discount on electricity bills reserved for resident domestic customers who do not already receive the electricity social bonus. Who has the right to decide the ISEE, with thresholds between 9,796 and 25,000 euros. Up to 15,000 euros of ISEE, for families with fewer than four children; between 15,000 and 25,000 euros of ISEE, again for families with fewer than four children and between 20,000 and 25,000 euros of ISEE, for families with at least four dependent children.
Anyone who is already entitled to the electricity social bonus cannot access this additional contribution. In addition to the ISEE, consumption also counts. To qualify for the measure, you must have consumed less than 500 kWh between January 1st and February 28th and less than 3,000 kWh in the previous twelve months. For users activated after January 1st (but by May 31st) we look instead at the first complete two-month period of supply. Finally, the supplier must have remained the same between January 1st and July 1st, or coincide with the one chosen when the contract was activated.
How the provision works: no questions to submit
What should citizens who qualify for the 2026 bill bonus do? Families don’t have to do anything, no questions, no forms to fill out. The mechanism is activated automatically through the cross-referencing of data between public bodies. In practice, INPS sends the Single Buyer the ISEE data of the families in the foreseen bands, which are cross-referenced with the active electricity supplies to identify who is entitled to the contribution. At that point, ARERA communicates the list of beneficiary customers to the participating sellers and the discount is applied to the bill as a cancellation.
The process has a phased process: information on the DSUs presented between January and June 2026 arrives in July, then monthly updates with the new ISEE will follow until January 2028. For this reason, accreditation times may vary from family to family, depending on when your ISEE was certified. And privacy? Sellers will only receive confirmation of the right to the bonus, together with the customer’s tax code and POD, but will never be able to see the value of the ISEE or other information on the family income.
Bill bonus 2026: voluntary participation of sellers, how to know if your supplier participates
Unlike the social bonus, which is automatically available to everyone, this contribution depends on the choice of your energy seller. Each operator can decide whether to join or not, and on which offers to apply it (free market, Placet, greater protection or gradual protection). Those who participate, however, must then give the discount to all customers who are entitled to it, without exceptions. Suppliers have time from 15 July to 31 August to communicate their decision, and the official list of participating sellers will be published by ARERA after that date. This will therefore be the easiest way to find out if your manager is participating in the initiative. If your supplier decides not to join, the bonus simply won’t arrive, even if you meet all the requirements. Changing operator to chase the discount is possible, but must be done with caution: saving 60 euros may not be worth it if the new contract has a more expensive rate.
How much is the bonus worth and when does it arrive in the bill
The amount is not the same for everyone: it depends on consumption in the first two months of the year and can arrive up to a maximum of 60 euros. Those who consumed less will receive a proportionally lower discount. For those who have a participating supplier, the discount will appear directly on the first bill from August, with a note explaining the amount received and the regulatory references of the measure.
