The gas bill of the typical household in protection for consumption in May remained stable, marking a -0.2% compared to April. This was announced by Arera explaining that the decrease in expenditure on natural gas, -13.2%, was offset by the 13% increase in general charges for the part linked to Ug2, the discount component provided for by the bills decree (DL 34/2023), used in the last year for the benefit of consumers to compensate for increases at times of higher gas prices.
Gas expenditure for the typical household in the current year (June 2022-May 2023) was approximately Euro 1,514, before tax, recording a -6.7% compared to the equivalent 12 months of the previous year (June 2021-May 2022). This is calculated by Arera spreading the variation of -0.2% of the May tariff for the typical family, which has average gas consumption of 1,400 cubic meters per year, for the protected market. In May, which recorded an average wholesale price lower than that of April, the price of the gas raw material, for customers with contracts in conditions of protection, is 34.06 euros per MWh.
With regard to the component of the gas price covering supply costs (CMEMm), applied to customers still under protection, recalls the Authority, "it is updated by Arera as a monthly average of the price on the Italian wholesale market (the PSV day ahead) and published within the first 2 working days of the month following the reference month". Arera also recalls that "the 'Bills Decree' n.34 of 2023, for the second quarter of 2023, confirmed the reduction of VAT to 5% for gas and the zeroing of the remaining general system charges. In view of the constant reduction in wholesale gas prices, the negative rates of the Ug2 tariff component, applied to consumption brackets up to 5,000 cubic meters per year, have instead been gradually reduced and with this update zeroed". The expenditure for transport and meter management remains unchanged, adds the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment. In detail, for the month of May 2023, the reference price of gas for the typical customer is equal to 91.43 euro cents per cubic meter, including taxes, divided as follows: expenditure on natural gas: 40.95 euro cents (equal to 44.8% of the total bill) for the supply of natural gas and related activities, with a reduction of approximately 22% compared to April 2023; 5.32 euro cents (5.8% of the total bill) for retail sales, unchanged from the value of April 2023. The expenditure for transport and meter management is 22.38 euro cents (24.5% of the total bill) for distribution, metering, transport, distribution equalization, quality services, unchanged compared to the value of April 2023. The expenditure for system charges provides for 1.12 euro cents (1.2% of the total bill), an increase compared to April 2023, as a result of the elimination of the reduction effect for the end user. As for taxes: 21.66 euro cents (23.7% of the total bill) for those that include excise duties (16.7%), the regional surcharge (2.2%) and VAT (4.8%).
Consumers, wicked choice to reset the discount on gas The gas
bill that falls by 0.2% in the protected market is "very bad news" according to the National Consumers Union, "especially if we consider that if the government had not reintroduced the remaining 35% of the Ug2 component of system charges the drop in the bill would have been 13.2% and not 0.2%. A wicked choice if you consider that, despite today's reduction and the tax discounts still in force, such as VAT at 5%, bills remain much higher than in normal times. Not to mention the harmful effects on inflation," says Marco Vignola, head of the UNC's energy sector.
