Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – Following the announcements by several providers of discounts on gas and electricity bills, consumers are racing to find the best option to reduce the burden of utility bills on family budgets. But how can you choose the best one for your needs? Udicon (Union for the Defense of Consumers) has compiled a handy guide for Adnkronos, with 10 rules for making the best choice for your budget.
The key point to remember is that the offer with the lowest price per kWh or Smc is not automatically the most convenient. What matters is the overall cost, along with the fixed fee, duration, additional services, and applicable terms. Energy prices change over time: before signing a contract, always check the updated conditions, explains Udicon.
1. Before choosing, really understand your consumption. Don't start from the advertised price, but from how much you use per year. A convenient tariff for a family with high consumption may be unsuitable for a second home or a residence with low consumption. Therefore, the comparison should be made using annual consumption, not a generic "average" consumption.
For electricity, check the kWh consumed over the last 12 months; for gas, check the Smc consumed over the last 12 months. If consumption varies significantly between winter and summer, also consider the seasonal distribution. In practice, write down two numbers on a piece of paper: kWh/year and Smc/year. These are the numbers to use in the Offers Portal to obtain a comparison that best reflects your actual situation.
2. Fixed or variable price? Understanding the differences. The choice isn't between "safe" and "convenient": they are two different ways of determining the price of the energy component. Fixed price: The price of the energy component remains fixed for the period specified in the contract. Variable price: The price follows an index specified in the contract, to which a spread or other fee may be added. For fixed prices, check: Price duration, fixed rate, and conditions after expiration. And for variable prices: Index used, update frequency, spread, fixed rate, and other fees.
And be careful: "fixed price" doesn't mean "a fixed bill." Network costs, charges, taxes, and other fees may vary. Neither plan automatically guarantees savings.
3. Don't be convinced by the discount percentage alone. A highly visible discount may only apply to a portion of your bill or last a few months. Before evaluating a promotion, always ask yourself: "Discount compared to what?" and "For how long?" Also check whether the discount requires direct debit, a digital bill, the purchase of additional services, or other conditions. Other questions to ask: what price is the discount calculated on? Does it only apply to the energy component or does it also include other vendor fees? How long does it last, and what happens at the end of the promotion? If an ad promises "30% off," it doesn't necessarily mean your total bill will drop by 30%. The discount can only apply to a portion of your spending. Always look at the estimated total annual spending.
4. Compare offers using official tools. The Offer Portal, created and managed by Acquirente Unico in accordance with ARERA regulations, allows families and small businesses to compare electricity and gas offers. If you receive a proposal, you can also use the Offer Code to identify it and compare it with alternatives. Then, enter your location and supply characteristics; use your annual consumption, if available; compare the estimated annual cost and not just the unit price; and read the summary sheet before signing: it summarizes the essential financial and contractual terms. For example, an offer listing only the price per kWh can be misleading because it doesn't include all the billing items.
5. Check the duration, renewals, services, and clauses. A convenient offer today may change when the terms and conditions expire. Therefore, before signing, check the contract documentation and the offer box, when available, for information that determines the cost over time. This includes: effective and expiration dates of the terms and conditions; the method by which new terms and conditions will be communicated; the fixed monthly or annual fee applied by the seller; additional services: assistance, maintenance, insurance, devices, or other included or optional products; and any early termination fees, if provided for in the contract and permitted by applicable law.
6. Free market or protected market? First, check your situation: the supply regime is indicated on the bill and changes the rules governing price formation. Here's how supply regimes change. In the free market, electricity prices and commercial terms are set by the vendors; some components remain regulated; for gas, prices and commercial terms are set by the vendors, and some components remain regulated. In the Protected Market for Vulnerable customers, vulnerable domestic customers can choose the Enhanced Protection Service for electricity. For gas, vulnerable domestic customers can choose the Vulnerability Protection Service.
The Gradual Protections electricity service for non-vulnerable households who joined the service in 2024 is active until March 31, 2027, and is not available for domestic gas customers. Starting April 1, 2027, the Gradual Protections service for domestic customers will no longer be available. Unless expressly chosen, the customer will continue with the same supplier on its most favorable free market offer, in accordance with ARERA regulations.
7. If you're vulnerable, check the protections before choosing. Being on the free market doesn't mean you lose the opportunity, if you're eligible, to request the protection service provided for vulnerable customers. But when can a customer be considered vulnerable? Age 75 or older – Electricity: Yes; Gas: Yes. Eligible for the social bonus for economic hardship – Electricity: Yes; Gas: Yes. Disability pursuant to Article 3 of Law 104/92 – Electricity: Yes; Gas: Yes. User of emergency housing after natural disasters – Electricity: Yes; Gas: Yes. Bonus for serious health conditions/small, non-interconnected island – Electricity: Yes; Gas: No. For economic hardship, the standard ISEE threshold is €9.796; it remains at €20.000 for families with at least four dependent children. For automatic ISEE-related bonuses, you must submit the DSU and meet the required requirements.
8. Periodically review the convenience of your offer. Comparison isn't just useful when you're signing up for a new account. A contract that was competitive when you signed it may no longer be so after a renewal, a change in terms, or a change in your consumption. Make periodic checks a habit, especially when the expiration of your current offer is approaching. Compare your current offer with the offers available on the Offers Portal; also check for any new offers from your same vendor; evaluate your overall annual cost and don't switch just for an initial bonus. Changing vendors doesn't interrupt your supply. The new vendor initiates the switching process. Any costs may depend on the terms of the new contract (for example, a security deposit, if applicable).
9. After switching, check to make sure the savings have actually been achieved. The decision doesn't end with signing: check your first and subsequent bills. Compare what you're billed with what's stated in the contract. In the new bill format, the Energy Receipt helps you see quantities and prices, while the Offer Box provides information on the applicable conditions. This includes the offer name and offer code; the applied price and calculation formula as per the contract; the fixed fee and additional services; and the expiration date of the economic conditions and the contract, if applicable. Therefore, keep the contract, summary sheet, and communications from the seller. If you find any discrepancies, seek clarification through consumer associations.
10. Check whether your supply is sized to your needs. Saving money isn't just about changing the price: some technical features also affect costs. For electricity, look at the contracted power. Part of the cost is tied to the contractually committed power. On your bill, you can compare the contracted power with the maximum power actually drawn in previous months. If the margin is consistently large, you can carefully evaluate whether a lower power is compatible with your habits. Therefore, leave a safety margin: too low a power can trigger the limiter to kick in when using multiple appliances simultaneously. Evaluate the adjustment based on actual peaks.
For gas: check the meter's rating. The meter's rating (e.g., G4, G6, G10) is relevant to the distribution and metering rate. The fixed portion of the distribution rate can also vary based on the meter's capacity. Any changes must be evaluated based on the system's technical characteristics and with the relevant authorities. Therefore, to truly save money, combine a good offer with informed consumption: use historical data to understand when and how much you consume; if you have a time-based tariff, check whether usage times are consistent with the pricing structure; avoid increasing the contracted power unnecessarily; if the meter trips frequently, evaluate your actual needs; periodically check appliances and systems: efficiency reduces consumption regardless of the supplier.
saving
webinfo@adnkronos.com (Web Info)