After you’ve arrived in Italy and found yourself a place to live, one of the first things you need to do is arrange the electricity and the rest of the utilities for the property. Electricity in Italy is relatively expensive compared to the United States but getting your utilities set up is pretty simple and shouldn’t take more than a few days to arrange.
How Do You Setup Electricity In Italy?
To get electricity in Italy you need to sign up with one of the nation’s energy providers. It’s worth remembering that you will need to have a valid ‘Codice Fiscale’, which is an Italian tax number, before you can sign up for an electricity contract with a supplier.
If the electricity contract from the previous tenant or owner of the property is still active then you can simply transfer it to yourself through a process called ‘voltura’. This is certainly the easiest way to get your electricity connected.
However, if the previous contact is no longer active then you will have to set up a new contract with the electricity supplier. This is known as a ‘subentro’. Before you set up a new contract you should note down the reading on the meter so you aren’t overcharged for electricity that you didn’t use.
If you need help getting your utilities set up you can either ask the estate agent that you are renting the property from or the agent who helped you buy the property to arrange it for you.
Who Are The Main Electricity Providers In Italy?
In Italy, Enel is the main provider of electricity with a total market share of 17%, as of 2019. Enel is followed by Eni which has a market share of 9.1% and Edison, in third place, with a market share of 7.6%.
There are also much smaller providers of electricity, including A2A, EPH and Iren, among many others, which operate a more limited service that is only available in certain parts of the country. However, the major providers, such as Enel and Eni, operate throughout the entire country.
What Is The Cost Of Electricity In Italy?
Electricity is quite expensive in Italy compared to the US. Between January 1st and September 22nd in 2021, Italian wholesale fossil gas prices rose by more than 300%; and since Italy relies on fossil gas for around 50% of its total electricity production, prices rose steeply as well!
This caused the average price of wholesale electricity to rise from 41 Euros per Megawatt to almost 120 Euros per Megawatt between August 2020 and August 2021, costs which were largely passed on to the consumer. To further add to rising energy prices the recent conflict in Ukraine, and the subsequent halts in Russian gas delivered to Europe have also caused electricity prices to spike.
Another reason for rising electricity prices is Italy’s ongoing transition to cleaner, green energy. The process of transitioning to green energy is expensive and part of these costs are passed on to the consumer.
According to the Italian industry regulator, the average price for an annual electricity bill for a household is predicted to rise from 632 Euros in 2021 to 1,322 Euros by the end of the 4th quarter of 2022. This works out at about 110 Euros per month for the average Italian household, although if you are frugal and practice energy-saving techniques you can keep your bills a little lower.
How Do You Pay For Electricity In Italy?
The most common way to pay your electricity bills is at the Poste Italiane. You will first receive a printed bill from the electricity provider which you need to take to a clerk at the nearest Poste Italiane to pay.
Alternatively, you can set up a direct debit to automatically pay your bills. In some cases, you may not be able to open an account with an electricity provider unless you set up a direct debit account with them although usually, you can opt to pay at the Poste Italiane if it’s more convenient for you.
How Often Do You Pay Your Electricity Bills In Italy?
After you’ve set up an account with an electricity provider you will need to pay your utility bills either once a month or every two months. You will also have to submit a meter reading several times a year to ensure that your regular bills are correctly adjusted for the amount of electricity that you are actually using.
What Is The TV Tax In Italy?
In Italy, every office, home, and even car with a radio or television on board must pay a fixed ‘Canone RAI’. Essentially, this is a television tax that is used by the government to subsidize public TV stations such as RAI, the Italian public service broadcaster.
Is TV Tax Included In The Electricity Bill In Italy?
Yes, your TV tax is usually included in your regular electricity bill. As a rough guideline, your TV tax is charged at a rate of 9 Euros per month or 18 Euros if you pay your bills bi-monthly. You should be able to see the TV tax on your electricity bill as a separate category. If you’re confused or can’t find it on your bill then you can contact the electricity provider to confirm you’re paying the right amount.
How Do Electricity Rates In Italy Vary During The Day?
In Italy, the price of electricity varies throughout the day, depending on the demand for the services. There are 3 main time bands for electricity throughout the week. The most expensive time to use electricity is during the F1 time band, which is Monday to Friday from 8 am to 7 pm.
The second band, F2, is slightly cheaper. The F2 band is between 7-8 am and 7-11 pm during the week and 7 am-11 pm on Saturdays. The last time band, F3, is the cheapest and covers 11 pm to 7 am on Monday through Saturday, as well as all day on Sundays as well as major national bank holidays.
To ensure that you’re paying the right amount for your electricity you can order a Smart meter to be installed which will more accurately calculate your usage than the traditional power meters. If you don’t have a Smart meter, you can also call in your readings on a regular basis to ensure that you aren’t overpaying for your electricity.
Do Electricity Rates Vary In Different Regions Of Italy?
On top of temporal variations in price, there are also regional differences that you should be aware of. As of January 1st, 2021, Italy was divided into different regions for electricity supply which include North, Center-North, Center-South, South, Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia.
The cost of electricity in each region is determined by how much energy the region generates and the cost of producing that energy. Therefore, the regions that have a more abundant supply of fossil fuels and renewable power generation are able to charge less for electricity than regions that do not.
The new regulations restrict the ability of producers to buy and sell across these regional boundaries. This is hoped to act as an incentive for regions to produce more of their own renewable energy and to improve the efficiency of their existing distribution networks.
What Types Of Electric Plugs Are Used In Italy?
In Italy, there are 3 main types of plugs that you can use in your home. These are plug types C, F and L. The plug type C has 2 round pins, the plug type F has 2 round pins and 2 earth clips on the side of the plug while plug type L has 3 rounded pins.
All of Italy operates on a 230V supply voltage. This means you may need to buy a travel adapter so your electronic devices are compatible with the Italian power system if they were made in America or other parts of the world.
Great Ways Of Reducing Your Electric Bill In Italy.
Even though utility bills in Italy are increasing, and are predicted to continue rising for the foreseeable future, there are still super simple ways that you can keep your bills down by reducing your energy use at home.
- Always switch off lights when you leave a room. Once you get into the habit of turning off lights when you go to another room it’ll become second nature and you’ll start to save money on your bills.
- Ensure that your home’s insulation includes draught-proofed windows and doors at the very least. You can also install insulation in your walls and roof to maximize the energy efficiency of your home heating systems.
- Try to avoid using your tumble drier because these consume a lot of energy. Instead, if you can, try hanging your laundry outside in the sun to dry. Of course, this may not be possible in city apartments or during the winter but if you have a garden then why not save some money by allowing your laundry to dry naturally outside, particularly if you live in a sunny part of Italy, such as Sardinia?
- To reduce your electric bills you can take showers instead of baths. This will reduce your need to heat water and save you money on your bills over time.
- Don’t leave your TV or computer on standby when you’re not using it because this can be a major drain on your electricity. Instead, switch it off completely when you’re not using it.
Getting Your Electricity Set Up In Italy Is Easy.
Although it can seem a little confusing and even overwhelming, getting your electricity connected and a new contract set up is very easy and should only take a couple of days. Of course, it’s vital to have electricity in your new home so you should make sure that getting your utilities up and running is one of your top priorities when you relocate.
In many cases, your estate agent can arrange this on your behalf, especially if you advise them before you move in that you want them to do this for you. They may charge you a small fee, but it might be worthwhile if you don’t want to handle the process on your own.
