January 10, 2024 marks the end of the protected gas market for non-vulnerable customers. Existing contracts under this regime will be automatically migrated to new “time-based” offers from the same operators.
What happens to customers who have not chosen an offer?
Customers who have not chosen an offer in the free market by January 10 will remain with the same operator with so-called Placet offers lasting one year with a variable rate. This type of supply includes some conditions defined by Arera, with a fixed component defined by the sellers.
Who can remain in guardianship?
Consumers considered vulnerable are excluded from the stop. For gas, this category includes:
Customers who are 75 years of age or older;
Customers in disadvantaged economic conditions, which correspond to those who already receive the social bonus for electricity and gas;
Persons with disabilities pursuant to Article 3 of Law 104/92;
Those living in emergency housing following a natural disaster.
What to do to choose the most convenient offer?
Non-vulnerable customers who intend to choose an offer in the free market can do so at any time. To do so, you can use the Arera portal, which allows you to compare the different solutions proposed by operators based on your average consumption. The portal also offers a comparison with the prices of the protected market, to better get an idea of the difference in expenditure incurred.
The energy market
The end of the protected gas market is only the first step towards the complete liberalization of the energy market. For electricity, the transition to the free market is scheduled for July 2024.
