Objective: to reduce the cost of electricity for families and businesses by intervening on the mechanism that links the price of electricity to that of gas. The new bill decree was approved by the Council of Ministers on 9 November, after two postponements and a discussion with the European Commission. A particularly awaited measure as the arrival of winter increases energy consumption and, consequently, worries about household expenses.
The provision introduces a cap of 58.9 euros per megawatt hour on the price of gas used to produce electricityaccompanied by a system of reimbursements to thermoelectric power plants. According to the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, the new provisions will allow, starting from January 2027, an average reduction in the cost of electricity of around 15 euros per megawatt hour.
But how much will this actually translate into the bill? And above all, who will benefit from the discounts? The first simulations indicate a very different economic advantage depending on consumption, the contract signed and the type of user.
How the new bill decree works
The mechanism identified by the government aims to reduce the weight of gas in the formation of electricity prices. In Italy, in fact, even energy produced through renewable sources can be sold at prices influenced by gas-fired power plants, which often contribute to determining the price on the wholesale market.
The ceiling of 58.9 euros per megawatt hour does not represent a limit on the price of gas paid directly by domestic consumers. It instead concerns the gas used to generate electricity.
The power plants will continue to purchase fuel at market prices, but will receive a partial reimbursement of costs according to criteria established by the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment (ARERA). The objective is to encourage more convenient offers on the electricity market and transfer part of the benefit to end users.
The measure will be temporary, with a maximum duration of 18 months. The decree also introduces provisions to counter the practices of operators who may withhold production capacity with the aim of influencing prices, seeking to ensure that the lower costs of renewable energy actually reach consumers.
Electricity discount from January 2027: how much families will save
It is the central point for millions of Italians. The average reduction of 15 euros per megawatt hour announced by the government is equivalent to 1.5 cents per kilowatt hour, but should not be confused with a net and automatic discount of the same amount on the household bill.
According to the simulations released by Codacons, the annual savings could be between 27 and 37 euros on average for the most common family types, with differences linked to consumption.
Estimates identify savings of around 14-21 euros per year for a single person who consumes between 1,000 and 1,500 kWh, of 27.5-30 euros for a couple with consumption between 2,000 and 2,200 kWh and of 34.5-37 euros for a family who uses between 2,500 and 2,700 kWh per year. For users with higher consumption, between 3,000 and 3,300 kWh, the theoretical benefit could reach 41.5-45.5 euros.
However, these are not definitive estimates. Codacons itself underlines how the trend in gas prices and the costs necessary to finance the mechanism could significantly reduce the actual advantage.
The analysis by the climate think tank Ecco is even more prudent, according to which savings for an average family could stop at 1.4 euros per month, equal to approximately 17 euros per year. A figure that highlights the distance between the reduction announced for the wholesale market and the benefit actually perceived by citizens.
Who will be entitled to discounts and what changes for those with a fixed price contract
The new decree does not introduce a bonus reserved exclusively for families with low incomes. Unlike traditional energy aid, the provision intervenes on the functioning of the electricity market and can therefore produce effects on a wider range of consumers.
The main distinction concerns the type of contract signed.
Those who have a variable price tariff, indexed to market trends, could benefit more directly from the decrease in wholesale prices. For these users, in fact, the cost of the energy component follows the variations in the reference values envisaged by the contract.
The situation is different for those who have chosen a fixed price offer. In this case, the tariff for the energy component remains the one agreed with the supplier for the duration envisaged by the contract and is not automatically reduced following the decree.
The measure does not include specific age requirements: even pensioners will be able to benefit from any reductions according to the characteristics of their supply. There is no individual application to access the reduction in market prices.
Bill decree, savings for businesses, artisans and traders
While the savings could be limited for families, the effects of the decree could be decidedly more significant for productive activities, especially those that consume large quantities of electricity.
The estimates contained in the press release from the Council of Ministers indicate, for 2027, a saving of around 280 euros for a small artisan business with annual consumption of 40 megawatt hours. The estimated benefit rises to 210 thousand euros for a large food company that consumes 30 thousand megawatt hours and reaches 520 thousand euros for an energy-intensive company with a significant share of self-production and consumption of 40 thousand megawatt hours.
Shops, restaurants, bars and other businesses could also benefit from the reduction in the cost of electricity, although the impact will depend on consumption and energy contracts.
Confcommercio welcomed the measure, offering companies a possible reduction in electricity bills of up to 10%. A result which, according to the association, should however be accompanied by structural interventions to make the Italian energy system more competitive.
What changes for gas bills in 2027
The measure does not exclusively concern electricity. A reduction in system charges applied to natural gas supplies is also expected for 2027.
These are components of the bill intended to finance specific activities of general interest in the energy sector. The decree entrusts ARERA with the task of establishing the reduction methods, within the limits of available resources.
To find out the extent of the gas discounts and the categories of users who will concretely benefit from them, we will therefore have to wait for the Authority’s implementing measures.
This measure adds to the support tools already provided for economically vulnerable consumers, without replacing the social bonus system.
When will the discounts on electricity bills arrive
The time reference indicated by the government is January 1, 2027when the new cost reduction mechanism will start to apply.
However, it does not mean that all families will immediately see the amount of their first bill of the year decrease. The effects will depend on the tariff update times, the contractual conditions and the implementation of the provisions entrusted to ARERA.
The provision, approved by the Council of Ministers, will also have to complete the process envisaged for the decree-laws, with publication in the Official Journal and subsequent parliamentary conversion within 60 days.
It therefore remains to be seen how much of the reduction in wholesale prices will actually translate into a benefit for consumers.
The new bill decree represents an attempt to intervene on one of the main factors that fuel the cost of energy in Italy. But there is still a distance between the declared objective of easing bills and real savings for families and businesses that only the next few months will allow us to measure.
