Green light from the Senate for the bill decree: it is law. From bonuses to telemarketing, all the novelties

To this end, it is envisaged that ARERA will set up a special tariff component to feed into an account managed by the Cassa per i Servizi Energetici e Ambientali.Transparency in the energy sector Within six months of the date of entry into force of the law converting the decree, ARERA will define, by means of its own provision, the methods and criteria by which retail operators in the electricity and natural gas sectors are to provide the same Authority with information on profit margins, broken down by type of customer or offer.

This measure also defines the frequency of reporting, in any case not less than one year, the obliged parties and the possible size thresholds for the application of the obligation, in compliance with the principles of proportionality, transparency and comparability of information, taking into account the need to minimise the related information burden.

A mechanism is introduced to reduce the cost of electricity bills of non-domestic users through a restructuring of the Conto Energia incentives for photovoltaic plants with a power output above 20kW. In particular, owners of photovoltaic plants with a power output greater than 20kW, who benefit from incentives under the four Conto Energia mechanisms expiring in 2029, may voluntarily choose to reduce the tariff premiums provided for between 2026 and 2027 by 15% or 30%, in exchange for an extension of the agreement by 3 or 6 months respectively. The possibility is provided for these entities to opt for an early exit from the Conto Energia incentive system, starting in 2028, in exchange for a fee.

The payment of the fee is subject to the obligation to completely rebuild the photovoltaic installations.

It is left to a decree of the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security to define the modalities for implementing the exit from the Energy Account.

Arera adjusts the timing of payment of the ASOS and ARIM tariff components by energy distributors, bringing them into line with the timing of payment by energy sellers. Arera is delegated to define the modalities by which the ASOS component of the bills of certain categories of non-domestic users will be reduced.

There is a 2 percentage point increase (from 3.9 per cent to 5.9 per cent) in the IRAP rate applicable to entities operating in the energy sector for the tax years 2026 and 2027.

The phase-out of coal-fired power plants used for electricity production is extended to 2038. It should be recalled that the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (Pniec), sent to the European Commission in July 2024, envisages the cessation of electricity production from coal by 2025 for power plants on the mainland and by 2028 for those located in Sardinia, subject to the completion of the necessary interconnection infrastructure.

The provision therefore sets a longer deadline than the planned schedule, without distinguishing between power plants located on the mainland and those located in Sardinia.

It provides for theprohibition of commercial solicitation by telephone, including through the sending of messages to consumers, aimed at proposing and concluding electricity and gas supply contracts.

The trader may contact the consumer by telephone, including by means of messaging, if there has been a request made directly to the trader through the latter's computer interfaces or if the contact has been made with respect to its electricity and gas customers who have given specific consent to receive commercial proposals. The onus is on the trader to prove the validity of the contact.

Telephone contacts must be made by the professional from a number that uniquely identifies him/her.

Contracts concluded as a result of contact made in violation of these provisions are null and void. The consumer may make use of alternative dispute resolution instruments.

If these new rules are not applied, users can report the matter to the Garante per la protezione dei dati personali (Gpdp) and the Autorità per le garanzie nelle comunicazioni (Agcom), indicating the number from which the call originated.

If Agcom, within the framework of the investigative activity carried out ex officio or following the report, ascertains that the call comes from numbers other than those assigned to the professional, it orders the telephone operator to immediately suspend the use of the lines assigned to the same.

Suspension may also be requested by the Gpdp, as part of its investigative activity, from Agcom in the event of a significant number of reports of calls without prior consent.