Good news for Italian families, who will soon see their bubbles go down gas bills, due to the effect of the progressive downsizing of the price, which returned around the levels seen at the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. A sigh of relief after a dark winter, lived in fear of a sudden drop in temperatures, but that was not the case and, also thanks to the high stocks (around 80%), the worst is now behind us. But let’s see how much the price will reduce and what it means for families.
Price down by 33% to 1 euro/mc
After the 23% price increase recorded in December, the tariff of gas should be reduced by 33% in February, following the progressive reduction of the price on the market Amsterdam TTF futureswhich reached i 60 euro/Mwh compared to 117 euro/MWh in December. This will also include the PSV price used as a basis for bills and linked to the Dutch market.
According to Davide Tabarelli, president of Nomisma Energia, the Energy Regulatory Authority (ARERA), on the occasion of the review of gas tariffs for users in enhanced protection, which will fall on February 2nd, should announce a drop in gas rate at about 1 euro/mc from 1.5 euro/mc in December, marking a drop of 33% compared to December and also recording a reduction of around 27% compared to the rate of the previous year.
“For the typical family, this is an annual saving of 712 euros, for typical consumption of 1400 cubic meters a year”, explains Tabarelli, adding “there are only two days to go now”.
For the light, a little patience
For the electricity bill we still need a little patience, because the next one rate review will be carried out by ARERA in March. On that occasion, however, the reduction in gas should be reflected in the electricity bill, for which a 20% reduction. With this reduction, inflation should also drop again, to around 10% from 11.3% in December.
A decline to the benefit of households and businesses
“The drop in gas bills it helps businesses and forced families to deal with out-of-control energy costs”, says Coldiretti with reference to the possible drop in gas costs speculated by Nomisma Energia and by Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, who had spoken of a 49% drop since early February.
“Energy expenditure has a double negative effect – recalls Coldiretti – because reduces purchasing power of citizens and families, but it also increases business costs particularly relevant for agri-food with winter. The cost of energy is in fact reflected throughout the supply chain and concerns both agricultural activities but also food processing and distribution.
Agricultural and food production in Italy absorb over 11% of total industrial energy consumption for about 13.3 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) per year, according to the analysis by Coldiretti based on Enea data.
2022 presents a salty bill
According to the calculations made by the CGIA of Mestre, meanwhile, 2022 greeted us with a very high bill of 91.5 billion euros paid by households and businesses. If electricity costs increased by 109.5 percent, causing an extra cost of 58.9 billion in monetary terms – he explains – those of methane increased by as much as 126.4 percent, lightening the wallet of Italians of 32.6 billion.
The sting has hit businesses more than households: if the former paid 61.4 billion more, the latter put 30 billion euros on the plate.
