Sara Guglielmetti Energy costs are rising again, heightening Italians' concerns ahead of the winter season. Gas prices are particularly high, reaching record highs for vulnerable customers. Here are the details.
Higher bills, gas prices up 9,1%: "It's a historic record."
The high cost of living worries Italians, and the high cost of bills worries them even more.
Energy costs continue to rise. This is confirmed by official data recently released by Arera and Istat. Regarding gas, Arera announced that wholesale prices rose sharply in October 2026, and total spending for the typical consumer increased by 9,1% compared to September. Therefore, for the approximately 2,3 million vulnerable customers still interested in the service, the price of gas alone is €88,36 per megawatt-hour.
For the average customer, the reference price reaches 176,80 euro cents per cubic meter, a 9,1% increase over the previous month. Gas alone accounts for 97,06 cents, or 54,9% of the total bill. It should be noted that the Arera figure applies exclusively to vulnerable customers and therefore does not automatically apply to free market contracts.
The new rates have provoked a reaction from consumer associations. Marco Vignola, vice president of the National Consumers Union, called the figure reached in October 2026 a historic record. "A historic record. Never before has the price of gas, including taxes, been so high," he said, commenting on the updates released by Arera.
Higher bills, Codacons: gas is 65% more expensive than it was in October 2025.
Codacons highlighted the impact of the increase on Italian families. The association confirmed that the 9,1% increase in prices compared to September results in an estimated annual increase of approximately €163 for a household with a consumption of 1.100 cubic meters. The average cost of gas thus reaches €1.945, to which must be added an estimated €868,6 for electricity. But what was the situation last year? According to Codacons' calculations, by October 2025, gas rates for vulnerable customers will have increased by 68% . This difference, according to the association, equates to an increase in annual spending of approximately €787 per household.