Energy Bonuses and Financial Help for Energy Bills

In Italy, there are energy bonuses to support vulnerable people, including people with disabilitites and with low income.  At national level there are two main type of energy bonuses: il Servizio di maggior tutela e i bonus sociali.

Servizio di maggior tutela – Mercato tutelato

Mercato tutelato is a regulated energy price. The price of the bill is set by the Autorità di Regolazione per Energia Reti e Ambiente (ARERA) and is usually lower than free-market price. You may  access the service if you belong to at least one of these groups:

• you are over 75 years of age;
• you are economically disadvantaged;
• you have a disability as defined in Article 3 of Law 104/92;
• you require emergency housing following a natural disaster;
• you live on a small, unconnected island.

If you meet at least one of the vulnerability criteria, you can request access to the enhanced protection service at any time from the energy company responsible for your area.

More information: https://www.arera.it/atlante-per-il-consumatore/elettricita/il-mercato-dellenergia/clienti-vulnerabili

Bonus sociali (Social bonuses)

Social bonuses for electricity, gas and water are a measure to reduce the cost of electricity, natural gas and water supplies. The bonuses apply to two groups:

• Households experiencing physical hardship;
• Vulnerable households experiencing economic hardship;

Bonus for physical hardship

This can mean

• domestic customers suffering from a serious illness
• domestic customers who live with someone suffering from a serious illness that requires the use of life-sustaining medical equipment identified by the Decree of the Ministry of Health of 13 January 2011.

Il Bonus sociale disagio fisico viene scontato direttamente in bolletta e gli importi variano da 167 fino a 543 annui a seconda del livello di consumo. 

Bonus for economic hardship

The bonus for economic hardship is a discount automatically applied to electricity, gas and water bills for households with an ISEE certificate below the threshold of: 

• €9,530 for families with up to three dependent children
• €20,000 for large families with at least four dependent children 

More information: https://www.arera.it/consumatori/bonus-sociale/bonus-sociale-per-disagio-economico

Bono Social Eléctrico (Electricity Social Bonus)

This is the main national electricity discount. It reduces the cost of electricity for people considered vulnerable or severely vulnerable:

• A household where a person has a recognized disability of 33% or more
• an officially recognized dependency (level II or III)

These special circumstances increase income limits, making it easier to qualify. Important conditions:

• You must have the regulated electricity tariff (PVPC).
• The contract must be for your main home.
• The contracted power must be 10 kW or less.

Protection:

• People who receive this bonus have stronger protection against electricity cut-offs, especially during vulnerable situations.

Social Residential Tariff (Κοινωνικό Οικιακό Τιμολόγιο)

This is the main electricity discount  for vulnerable people including people with disabilities.

Key features:

• gives a discount on your electricity bill.
• applies only to your main home
•  Application  through the official electronic platform (EDIΚΑ).
• The discount is calculated per kWh of electricity, within limits.

If your household includes:

• a person with a disability of 67% or more
• mechanical support with medical devices at home

the consumption limits increase:  this means you can use more electricity and still benefit from the discount.

Example of electricity consumption limit:

• +300 kWh per four months (above the regular limit, household with +67% disability)
•  +600 kWh per four months (household with medical devices)

Government Electricity Subsidies for Households

Occasionally, the Greek government offers temporary subsidies to help households pay high energy bills.

The subsidies:

• are available to households on standard electricity tariffs.

Are not specific only to people with disabilities, but people with the Social Residential Tariff (which includes disability‑linked conditions) get higher subsidy under these programs.

For example, in recent subsidy schemes, households with the Social Residential Tariff received a higher support of amount per unit of electricity than other households.

Solar/Energy System Installation Bonuses (Disability Extra Bonus)

There are national programs that help households install renewable energy systems such as small solar panels with batteries. These programs provide financial support (subsidies) covering part of the cost.

People with disabilities, their spouses, and dependent household members can receive a 10% extra bonus on top of the standard subsidy.

Installing these systems can help the household produce its own electricity and save money in the long run.

Social Residential Tariff (Κοινωνικό Οικιακό Τιμολόγιο)

This scheme offers a special reduced electricity rate called Tariff 08 for vulnerable groups.

Key features:

• bout 20% cheaper than the regular electricity tariff.
• Applies to people in certain vulnerable categories (including people on low income, social welfare recipients, and people with serious illnesses) 
• The government pays the cost of the discount.

How to apply:

• You or a household must qualify under one of the official vulnerable categories.
• apply to the EAC by email, fax, or in person at a customer service centre