Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – Utilities invested €9,9 billion in 2025, compared to €8,5 billion the previous year, allocating 87% of the resources to local communities. This commitment is set to continue in the coming years: for the three-year period 2026-2028, companies have planned an additional €29,7 billion in investments, primarily aimed at renovating and strengthening infrastructure, the energy transition, the circular economy, and the digitalization of services.
These are some of the findings from the 2026 Sustainability Report, "The Value of Utilities for the Country's Transition," compiled by the Utilitatis Foundation for Utilitalia based on a sample of over 115 member companies and presented today in Rimini at Ecomondo.
Investments made in 2025 confirm the role of utilities in the country's industrial and infrastructural transformation.
Over €3,4 billion is earmarked for three key areas of the transition: €1,6 billion for decarbonization, up from €1,3 billion in 2024; €1 billion for the circular economy, in line with 2024; and €822 million for digitalization, up from €780 million the previous year.
Investments in the water service total €4,4 billion, earmarked for network renewal, leak reduction, supply security, and improved purification systems.
The share of the district-controlled and remotely controlled water network reaches 59%, while 92% of the sewage sludge is destined for reuse or recovery.
On the environmental front, 97% of the separated municipal waste collected by companies is recycled, while 84% of the electricity produced by the utilities in the sample comes from renewable sources.
Decarbonization also shows significant results: the analysis conducted on a homogeneous sample of companies highlights, compared to 2019, an 18% reduction in direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1) and a 17% reduction in indirect emissions associated with purchased energy (Scope 2, location-based).
The focus is primarily on the coming years. Of the €29,7 billion in investments planned between 2026 and 2028, 39% will be on water services, 12% on energy production, 11% on energy networks, and 10% on environmental services.
"The implementation of these programs," explains Utilitalia President Luca Dal Fabbro, "requires regulatory stability, adequate authorization procedures, and coordination between businesses, institutions, and local authorities. The investments made and planned for the coming years by utilities demonstrate the sector's strategic importance for the ecological and digital transition and for the country's competitiveness. This represents a concrete industrial commitment to modernize infrastructure, strengthen supply security, and improve services to citizens."
The Report also highlights the contribution of utilities to the creation of economic and social value. In 2025, the economic value generated by companies will amount to €43,5 billion, including €26 billion in spending on purchasing goods and services from suppliers, 54% of which will go to local businesses. This represents a significant contribution to regional development, which translates into support for production chains, employment, and skills development.
The study focuses particularly on personal development and diversity and inclusion policies. The female presence in management positions has reached 20%, up from 17% in 2024, while women represent 38% of board members. Fifty-three percent of companies adopt policies or procedures dedicated to specific diversity and inclusion issues, highlighting how strengthening inclusive policies remains a priority for the sector. Regarding tools to support gender equality, 33% of companies have UNI/PdR 125:2022 certification.
On the employment front, companies hired over 8.000 new people in 2025, while 98% of employees are employed on permanent contracts. Sustainability is also continuing to be integrated into corporate processes: 65% of companies publish a sustainability report or disclosure, and 45% have integrated a sustainability plan into their strategy.
According to Mario Rosario Mazzola, President of the Utilitatis Foundation, "the Report shows how utilities' contribution to sustainability goes beyond investments and environmental performance, also involving the creation of economic value, quality of employment, and the development of people. The findings highlight signs of improvement in the presence of women in management roles, but also the need to further strengthen diversity and inclusion policies. Promoting equitable work environments, valuing diverse skills and professionalism, and ensuring equal opportunities are essential conditions for driving the industrial transformation of the sector and generating lasting benefits for communities."
sustainability
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