The billing professional arrives to manage energy and telephone bills

Here comes the billing professional. A consultant capable of explaining in full what all those numbers that Italians find indicated in the notices they receive or in the contracts they sign for energy or telephone utilities represent. A real consultant who assists users in the supervision and administration of their utilities, offering support, as mentioned, in understanding the services and in the day-to-day management of the services they receive. Transport costs, system charges and more that are most often ignored but ultimately make up an important part of the services we pay for electricity, gas, light or telephone.

The utility management consultant, according to the amendment introduced in the bills decree in the House now to the final vote in the Senate for conversion into law by 29 April 2025, must have a good preparation and concrete experience in his or her area of specialisation, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the main actors in the sector and the services involved. In addition, he/she must be well informed about the Consumer Code, contractual rules, tariffs and prices, as well as rules to ensure privacy and transparency for users. And given the trend and dynamism of the energy or telephone market aimed at users, the billing professional will be obliged to undergo continuous training, which he or she is obliged to attend constantly in order to remain up-to-date and competent.

Professionalism and qualification of the services that the utility management consultant provides can be attested by a professional association. In order to obtain this certification, the professional must be registered with the association, which, after a skills audit, can issue the appropriate certification under the responsibility of its legal representative. It will be possible to obtain official certification of the consultant's skills issued by a certification body accredited by Accredia, the Italian body responsible for accreditation, in accordance with the UNI 11782:2020 standard. UNI standard that establishes a reference standard for the assessment of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to exercise the profession in a qualified manner. Certifications issued by other countries will also be valid: in particular, certificates obtained in a European Union Member State, in a country belonging to the European Economic Area, or in Switzerland are considered equivalent.