District heating: ARERA gives the go-ahead for the social bonus for families in financial difficulty
Those eligible for the scheme can expect a reduction in their average expenditure of around 15 per cent, after tax. The bonus is available to households with an ISEE of no more than 9,796 euros, or 20,000 euros for households with at least four dependent children
Following on from those already in place for water, electricity, gas and waste collection, a social subsidy for district heating is now also being introduced. The scheme has been designed to support households facing financial hardship and has been approved by the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment (ARERA) through a resolution implementing the provisions of the February 2026 ‘Bollette’ decree.
How it works
Those benefiting from the measure can expect an average reduction in expenditure of approximately 15 per cent, after tax.
The subsidy will be paid by October 2027, once the operational systems have been updated. Direct customers will receive it on their bill, whilst those in block-of-flats will receive it via direct debit. The first payment will provide recipients of the scheme with both the 2026 and 2027 bonuses.
The extent of the subsidy
The district heating social allowance is granted for twelve months from the first day of the month in which the SII (Integrated Information System) carries out the necessary checks and notifies the relevant district heating service provider of the information required for the payment of the allowance.
The total amount of the bonus is the same as that of the social gas bonus and, just like the latter, is calculated on the basis of the climate zone to which the supply point belongs (Italia is divided into six climate zones), the number of members in the household (more or less than four) and the intended use of the supply (for heating only or also for domestic hot water).
