According to the survey commissioned by Facile.it to the research institutes mUp Research and Norstat, there are over 13 million Italian users who are not even aware of the fact that the protection service for the supply of electricity and gas is destined to close.
Indeed, almost 6 million consumers cannot say whether the contract they currently have is in the protected market or in the free one.
From 10 January 2024, millions of Italians are forced to move from the protected market for the supply of gas to the free market, while the end of the protected market for electricity is postponed to 1 July 2024, compared to the deadline scheduled for 1 April. .
But the Italians do not seem ready for this step.
Almost 2.5 million still in the protected market
Analyzing more closely the responses of those who declared they had an electricity or gas supply contract in the protected market, but did not know about the end of the protection regime, it emerges that almost 2.5 million Italians have not yet done anything to switch to the free market.
Lack of knowledge of the topic inevitably brings with it a series of fears, some understandable, others unfounded.
For example, around 1 million people said they feared running out of supply, while 12% admitted they were worried about rising tariffs.
The Gradual Protection Service
But what will happen for those who do not independently switch to the free market before the protection service expires? Don’t worry, you don’t run the risk of remaining without supply: Arera has established precise rules for so-called non-vulnerable customers, but which vary between electricity and gas.
In the case of electricity supply, the customer will be assigned through an auction to a new supplier, thus entering the gradual protection service, which will last 3 years and is set up by Arera to accompany the transition to the free electricity market.
As regards gas, however, the customer who does not switch to the free market on his own initiative will remain with the supplier, but will change the tariff. He will be assigned a tariff similar to the Placet ones, valid for one year, waiting for him to make a choice on the free market independently.
Only the expenditure on energy can be modified by suppliers
Hundreds of different companies operate on the free market, whose prices can vary significantly. However, it is good to remember that in the free market, suppliers have the possibility of modifying only the ‘energy expenditure’ component, an item which therefore becomes fundamental for comparing different offers.
The other items, such as charges and taxes, are the same for everyone and are established by the Authority.
The use of comparators or the intervention of an expert consultant can therefore be a solution to correctly compare the offers, and consciously choose the one best suited to your needs.