Utility Bills Decree: approval by the Council of Ministers postponed yet again
The measure had been amended following protests by electricity generators
It is understood that the approval of the ‘Bollette’ decree has been postponed yet again. The Council of Ministers has postponed consideration of the measure containing ‘urgent provisions to reduce the cost of electricity and gas for households and businesses’, as had already happened at its last meeting on 28 October.
According to initial reports, the decision to postpone the review is said to be linked to concerns raised by the National Audit Office. The measure submitted for approval had been amended from the 28 October version to reduce the impact of the gas price cap on the accounts of electricity producers. The decree had, in fact, provided for a significant portion of the difference between the cap – set at 58.9 euros per megawatt-hour – and the market price to be passed on to producers who are also electricity suppliers. This had sparked protests from the sector: that is why it had been returned to the Council of Ministers with a number of amendments.
