In the province of Treviso, a drain of 180 million. Adiconsum: “Worried about the weaker groups”. Codacons: “Let the Municipality intervene”
TREVISO. A very hot autumn in terms of price increases: the announced increase of 40% in electricity, together with the increases in gas and fuel, will force every family to pay an extra 500 euros each year for bills and gasoline. Out of a total of over 365,000 families in the Marca, all this will translate, at the end of the year, into 182 million euros more that will evaporate from the pockets of the Treviso residents. A bloodletting that worries consumer associations: “The poorest families will risk, in October, not even have the money to pay for heating”, Stefano Bellotto of Adiconsum cuts short. Franco Conte, Codacons regional president, adds to the dose: “Alarming situation, even the Municipality and the Region, in addition to the government, must intervene to protect the weaker groups with special facilities”.
All the rincari
Electricity and gas, above all, but also petrol and diesel. Adiconsum paints a gloomy picture for autumn. Gasoline now costs 15.3% more than at the beginning of the year, 19.4% compared to the same period in 2020. For a family, this translates into 324 euros more each year for fuel. Since January, diesel fuel has instead undergone an increase of 14.5%, while in one year it has grown by 18.5%, with an increase of about 11.80 euros for each full tank. «If they increase by 40%, as the bills now seem to be, which are now on an“ inclined plane ”with electricity and gas tariffs, the sting reaches 500 euros per family» observes Franco Conte, Codacons. Conte hopes that the government will intervene in order to calm the increases. But not only.
“Few concrete initiatives”
“As usual, the mystery remains of why when the price of oil falls, the benefits for consumers are always small, while now the increase in oil is abundantly, too abundantly discharged on the consumer,” observes the head of Codacons. “In Veneto the recovery of the economy is even more robust than in the rest of Italy, but the Covid pandemic has left wounds still open in the budgets of families. We hope that the solicitude to ask for resources in Rome on the part of local administrators and the governor will be accompanied by initiatives in favor of the weakest and most affected by the pandemic. To date, few municipalities have taken concrete initiatives, and the region itself has not been diligent ».
Autumn at risk
According to Stefano Bellotto of Adiconsum, there are two factors that led to the increase in tariffs: «The tariff structure of each bill and the increase in consumption demand, generated by the recovery, are two of the main factors. The immediate impact will have businesses and citizens, and they will have it immediately. This also poses problems of competitiveness. The difficulties we are experiencing now are the result of economic recovery, lack of supplies, and a part of speculation. The contributions from the Municipalities will be necessary when the poorest segment will not be able to pay for the heating, but alone they are not enough. And if things remain as they are, it will happen between now and October ».
The proposal
And what will be needed then? «On 6 August we already wrote to the government, as National Adiconsum, saying that it is not enough to eliminate the television license fee or explain the expense items. The entire tariff structure must be reviewed, removing system charges and everything that does not pertain to the final product sold. The problem is also political, of protecting the vulnerable ”.
The other nodes
If the price increases were not enough, a series of other dynamics denounced by Claudia De Marco of Federconsumatori also weigh on consumers: «Institutions facilitate the work of consumer associations, which have asked for a reshaping of system charges. Then it would be necessary to check the operators providing this type of services. The communication campaigns and the approach with the customers of certain companies must be verified, because there are reports of people almost “forced” to change operator under the excuse of the free market. These are often excessive campaigns and to the detriment, once again, of the weakest ».
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