"The estimated expenditure for electricity in 2024 for free market customers is around 38 euro cents per kilowatt hour, while for customers of the enhanced protection service it is around 33 euro cents per kilowatt hour".
This was said by the president of Arera, the public energy agency, Stefano Besseghini, in a hearing before the Productive Activities Commission of the Chamber.
The protected electricity market will end on July 1st.
Users who have not chosen a free market operator by that date will automatically be switched to the enhanced protection service.
In practice, they will receive electricity from the operator who won the supply for their area in a public auction, with a tariff partly set by Arera and partly by the operator itself.
Anyone who has already switched to the free market has the right to return to greater protection.
But consumer associations have reported that many energy companies are hindering this step.
"Arera - Besseghini explained to the Commission - has written to all operators to recommend making available the right of consumers to return to the enhanced protection service. On our website there is a page dedicated to the return, with the mechanisms requested by the 10 operators representing the 90% of the market".
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