In about a month, i condominiums will move to the free market of electricity. Since April, in fact, the electricity contracts for common parts of the building definitively abandon the protected market.
A novelty, without a shadow of a doubt, very important, as it will entail impact on bills. This is almost official news, unless there are twists. The agenda at the Milleproroghe which provided for the postponement of a year to the free market it was rejected.
What condominiums should expect? Obviously, one wonders what the consequences will be in the bill. We try to clarify, explaining what will be the effects of the transition to the free marketwhether it’s worth it or not.
Bills common parts of condominiums, what changes with the transition to the free market
Unless there are last minute twists, the condominiums they will have to say goodbye to the protected market and move on to the free market from 1 April 2023.
Therefore, the electricity bills of the common areas concerning, for example, the lighting of landings, driveways, patios, gates and lifts they will switch to the free market. Therefore, electricity will no longer be managed by the operators of the protected market.
The transition to the free market resulted from the fact that the places and consumptions of the common areas of the condominiums are equated to micro-enterprises, i.e. those companies with fewer than ten employees and a turnover of less than two million euros. In fact, we recall that the transition to the free market already took place for large companies and businesses in January 2021. Starting from 2024, the mandatory transition will be the turn of domestic customers.
In practice, the bills will bemost likely, higher, especially for condominiums equipped with a lift. The variations that condominiums in general will have to expect will not be slight and those equipped with a lift could lead to an increase in the bill are not insignificant.
To better understand the reason for these variations, it is appropriate to explain what are the protected market and the free market. In the first case, the prices of electricity and gas are established by the energy authority.
Protection, therefore, is the condition that guarantees consumers contracts in which the price of energy is calibrated according to fluctuations in the value of raw materials on the market.
In the free marketon the other hand, there will no longer be the energy authority to control costs, but the price will be determined by the electricity companies. In this case, the user will choose the most convenient solution.
For these reasons, barring last minute twists and turns, it is good that the condominium administrators choose as soon as possible best offer available on the free market, so that the condominiums do not find themselves with significant variations in the bill.
Is it worth switching to the free market? Here’s what to expect
Explain what the free market and the protected market are, the conclusions come by themselves. Faced with a change of this magnitude, it is more than normal for condominiums to wonder if the market is free agree or notalso considering the delicate period we are experiencing.
With energy increases, in fact, we try to save money in all ways. Electricity and gas bills, in recent times, have increased dramatically and in some cases the bills have even quadrupled. Lately, the situation has improved, with lower prices, but still higher than before.
For these reasons, the transition to the free market agitates the owners or tenants in the condominium, which are likely to receive higher bills.
The Consumers’ Union immediately underlined the possible increases that could weigh on the pockets of condominiums. Well, the protected market, in a certain way, guaranteed an energy price calibrated on the basis of fluctuations in the value of raw materials on the market.
In the free market, on the other hand, the competition between the various companies. Therefore, convenient or not, it becomes increasingly difficult to find advantageous offers, especially for those with a fixed price. For this reason, it is good for condominium administrators get moving and look for the cheapest offer.
In fact, we remind you that those who fail to switch to the free market by 1 April 2023 will go through a transitional phasecalled “gradual protections”. The transitional regime is managed by the various operators and results more expensive than the protected scheme.
The problem with the transitional regime is that it is particularly onerous. For what reason? In fact, if the condominiums do not risk running out of energy, the automatic transition from the protected regime to the transitional regime it does not envisage the assignment to the most convenient operator.
Furthermore, the transitional regime with gradual protections, managed by the Arera, also divides the areas of Italy. The suppliers operate on territorial areas and the price is different according to the location. Therefore, for some geographical areas the cost of electricity is higher than for others.
