Families who find themselves in a situation of economic hardship and large families have the possibility, under particular conditions, to obtain a discount on gas and electricity bills. This is a social bonus, which is sometimes referred to as Enel bonus but in an improper manner, and which in reality corresponds to the compensation regime for the expenditure incurred by domestic customers: in other words, it cannot be requested and obtained by companies. Regulated by Arera, theRegulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment, with the collaboration of the municipal administrations, this bonus was introduced by the government in 2009 and is valid regardless of the company that supplies the gas and electricity.
Il bonus for economic hardship can be requested by all domestic customers who are holders of an electricity supply for their home, up to a maximum of 3 kW in the case where there are no more than 4 people resident and up to a maximum of 4.5 kW in the case where there are 5 or more people resident. To certify the economic hardship of families must provide the ISEE certification, up to a threshold of 8.107 euros and 50 cents or, in the case of families with 4 or more dependent children, 20.000 euros.
The bonus for serious health conditions or physical discomfort
Il social bonus It is not only provided to those who are in economic hardship but also to those who have to deal with serious health conditions or physical hardship. In this case, the following are entitled to it: domestic customers who suffer from a serious illness or who live with a person suffering from a serious illness, requiring the use of electromedical equipment.
How much is the social bonus worth?
The social bonus is determined every year by the Authority: net of taxes, the savings guaranteed to the beneficiaries are up to 20% of the total expenditure for electricity in a year. In any case, it is the number of family members that determines the value of the discount. For 2018, for example, the social bonus is 125 euros for families with less than 3 members, 153 euros for families with 3 or 4 members and 184 euros for families with 5 or more members. As for the bonus for physical hardship, however, there are three variables to take into consideration to determine its value: daily usage time, the type of life-saving electromedical equipment used and the contractual power.
The bonus for serious health conditions
For the contracts up to 3 kW, for example, the bonus for serious health conditions is equal to 193 euros for consumptions that do not exceed 600 kWh per year, 318 euros for consumptions between 600 and 1.200 kWh per year and 460 euros for consumptions that exceed 1.200 kWh per year. For contracts exceeding 3 kW of contracted power, however, the bonus is equal to 452 euros for consumptions that do not exceed 600 kWh per year, to 572 euros for consumptions between 600 and 1.200 kWh per year and to 692 euros for consumptions that exceed 1.200 kWh per year.
These bonuses can be awarded regardless of the supply company which guarantees electricity and gas utilities: by clicking on the site https://www.evivaenergia.com/ you can discover the proposals and promotions of Eviva Energia, but the market also offers other solutions.
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