The hedged market is nearing its end. There are two dates to mark on the calendar: January 10, 2024 for gas, July 1 for electricity. Although time is limited for gas in particular, customers who have not yet switched to the free market should not panic: not only will they not be left out in the cold (or in the dark), but they will not even pay a disproportionate amount in comparison. according to their current tariffs. Indeed, prices need to remain in line with those predicted by larger safeguard tariffs (with some unknowns).
Arera (Energy, Grid and Environmental Regulatory Authority) has actually established a service designed to guarantee continuity of supply and prevent price increases that could harm consumers. But before we see what this is, we need to clarify that the broader protection regime will not end for everyone, but for vulnerable users (disabled, over 75, those in a disaster situation or those experiencing objective economic hardship). In these cases, as Arera notes, “the vendor will continue to supply with the vulnerability protection service.”
The end of the protected gas market: What will happen in January
What about all the other users of the protected market? In this case, the dates are the dates we stated above. But you should not rush and you do not even need to immediately start looking for an offer on the free market. As the authority’s president, Stefano Besseghini, explained, “there is no need to be particularly active”.
What is a protected energy market?
The protected energy market refers to the supply of gas and electricity with prices and contract conditions determined by Arera (the energy, networks and environment regulatory authority) based on fluctuations in the value of raw materials on the market. These are supplies intended for small end customers, such as families and microbusinesses, who have not yet chosen a seller in the free market, where prices are set independently by private companies.
The first point to clarify is that we will not experience disruptions in supply unless we immediately move to a free market. “Tg3 Fuori Tg” guest Besseghini noted that those who do nothing about gas “can stay with the usual supplier, which will charge a tariff called Placet, which is still largely regulated by the Authority and about which we have only.” It left a small component that operators could replace.”
In fact, the Arera website explains that the invoice will include a fixed fee component “freely determined by the seller”, while all other items (from supply cost to marketing cost) will contribute to determining the final cost. ) will remain those “already defined for the current protection service”. These economic conditions will last at least 12 months and will be renewable, as stated on the Authority’s website. Obviously, if the user finds a more advantageous offer on the free market, he is free to accept it.
However, Besseghini invited users to check “which tariff is applied”; because, as we explained above, it will be a component that the authority does not decide on and is created independently by the operators. According to the president of Arera, there is no need to “hurry” because “there are gradual protection services for electricity and continuity for gas”, a mechanism that will allow us to stay with the current supplier and “in the meantime evaluate whether there is an offer that suits us.” In terms of the transition to a free market A valuable tool is the Arera “Quote Portal” (link here) which allows you to compare all quotes on the market and choose the lowest or best fit for your needs.
The mechanism for electricity is similar
As for electricity, the deadlines are longer (the protected market will only end on July 1), but the situation is very similar. Those who do not transition to the free market will benefit from the service called “graded protection service” and will be able to benefit from “conditions equivalent to the enhanced protection service” for 36 months.
In short, you do not need to worry about choosing an operator in the free market. “There is always time,” Besseghini said, which I think is something consumers need to know very clearly. In fact, this whole mechanism built with auctions is not to force them to switch to the free market, but to force them to switch to the free market. A so-called protection system will be created that will allow people who do not choose, who do not choose, and who still continue to receive services from the tariffs we will auction. The result of the auction will ensure that we have the tariffs for this most advantageous service possible.”
Source: Today IT

Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.