THEImportant news coming regarding electricity bills. Arera, the Regulatory Authority for energy, networks and the environment, today approved the possibility for vulnerable users to choose the Gradual Protection Service (TSG). Obviously with pre-established methods and times. As stated in the press release issued by the Authority “the legislator has established that vulnerable customers can request, by 30 June 2025, to be provided with the Gradual Protection Service by contacting the operator of this service competent in their territorial area.” This is an important innovation, which will be in force from 31 January 2025. As the “QuiFinanza” website reminds us, at the moment in Italy there are two types of protected services for electricity users: the Greater Protection Service (Smt) , with prices defined on a quarterly basis by Arera, which only vulnerable customers can access; the Gradual Protection Service (Stg), with a part of the price that depends on market costs and another fixed, and which was designed to transition those customers who had not yet switched to the free market by June to a private operator 2024.
Thus, thanks to today’s exemption, vulnerable customers will also be able to benefit from the protections gradual if they want, without automatically ending up in the Smt. The request must be submitted by June 30, 2025. However, managers will also have to do their part. The resolution requires merchants to publish within 30 days on their websites: the available channels (telephone, digital, physical counter) to request information and submit the application for access to the service; the necessary documentation, including the self-certification forms prepared by the Authority to certify the vulnerability requirements; references to the toll-free number of the Energy and Environment Consumer Help Desk.
As Arera explains, “vulnerable customers who do not request to enter the STG by 30 June 2025 and those who acquire the vulnerability requirements after this date will no longer be able to request access to the service. Finally, anyone who falls into the vulnerable category in this period of time will not automatically be included in the greater protection system. It will be up to them to decide whether to choose the latter service or vice versa to rely on the gradual protection service. Lastly, it should be remembered that all the requirements to be considered vulnerable are listed on the Arera website. The category includes: people over the age of 75, those in economically disadvantaged conditions (for example, bonus recipients) and those in emergency housing following calamitous events.
