There are a few days to go until the new year. The focus is on the upcoming increases in energy prices. Consumer associations are already preparing the first forecasts. “2022 will open marked by increases in electricity and gas prices, with the tariffs of energy bills – according to Assoutenti estimates – destined to rise at the next quarterly update, and the increases that will continue over the course of the new year and could bring the expenditure for the supply of electricity and gas to reach the record figure of 2,558 euros per year per family (3 people), with an increase of + 77% compared to the expenditure incurred in 2019 “.
In recent months, Italian families have already tasted a surge in the cost of energy: from 1 October the increases on electricity bills (+ 29.8%) and gas bills (+ 14.4%) started. . The allocation of 3 billion euros to contain the increases only helped in part. Further increases are expected for the next few months. “In the course of 2021, each single nucleus found itself spending a total of 1,964 euros for bills (1,162 euros for gas, 802 for electricity) with an average increase in spending of + 48.4% over 2020 due to the maxi price increases recorded in the last year – explains the president of Assoutenti, Furio Truzzi – Analysts’ forecasts for 2022 are even worse and, according to Assoutenti’s calculations, the electricity bill could reach a record of 1,042 euros per year in the next 12 months per family due to the sharp rises in international electricity prices, 1,516 euros for the gas bill, for a total of 2,558 euros per family for energy supplies ».
“Price increases that would result in an increase in expenditure equal to the maxi-figure of +1,110 euros per family (+ 77%) compared to 2019, with peaks of + 200% for businesses – adds Truzzi – For this reason we believe that the funds from 3 , 8 billion euros that the Government wants to insert in the Maneuver to counter the expensive bills are completely insufficient to contain the maxi-increases in tariffs that will follow one another throughout 2022: at least another 4 billion euros are needed to be put on flat to avoid the blow that is about to hit consumers and businesses “.
And if the interventions promised by the Government fail to avoid the sting on energy bills, Assoutenti will launch a maxi-strike of electricity and gas bills by families in the course of 2022, replicating the initiatives implemented by the unions over the years. ’70, when users were invited to self-reduce telephone and energy bills as a sign of protest against the tariff increases.
“We will invite families to revoke direct debits on bank rids and pay bills by postal order, reducing the amount of invoices: a legal protest to save the pockets of Italians and prevent speculation on the markets from enriching a few to the detriment of many” he concludes Assoutenti.