The price of gas slows down: in October bills were cheaper by 12.9 per cent

Savings go beyond expectations: in October, families in the higher protection regime will pay their gas bills 12.9 per cent less compared to the previous quarter. This is what the Energy Authority communicates, which for the first time presents the update of tariffs with the new method that is based on the monthly average price on the Italian wholesale market, instead of on the Dutch TTF on a quarterly basis. The change, drawn up last July, is aimed precisely at absorbing in a more timely manner the changes in the price of gas that have been recorded for months now. But precisely because the markets are sensitive to various factors and the winter has not yet begun, in commenting on the new tariffs, President Stefano Besseghini calls for caution. Things could change when the heaters are turned on: “Let’s not let our guard down. The cost of gas for October recorded a decrease compared to the previous quarter but the percentages should not be misleading. The values ​​remain very high compared to the past and, if it is true that they have had a modest impact for families in the summer, will result in more demanding bills with the increase in consumption in the winter season, with prices that are expected to rise due to the greater demand in the cold months. The invitation therefore remains that of a pay attention to savings and energy efficiency “we read in the note of the Authority.

The most optimistic estimates, such as those of Staffetta Quotidiana, a magazine specializing in energy issues, predicted a decline of 6 percent. In recent days Nomisma had instead calculated that there would have been a slight increase of 5 per cent, in any case well below the double-digit increases of the previous months. The data communicated this afternoon therefore exceed expectations: for the month of October the price of the gas raw material (CMEMm), for customers with contracts under protective conditions, it is set at 78.05 euros / MWh. But looking at the rolling year (i.e. the period between November 1, 2021 and October 31, 2022), gas spending for the typical family is still very high: around 1,702 euros, 67 percent more than in the equivalent 12 months. of the previous year.

In addition to the new calculation method, the reduction in tariffs is determined by the drop in gas prices, far from the peaks reached in the summer, when all the countries were busy filling their stocks and demand was still strong. Despite the start of the autumn season, mild temperatures and industrial difficulties led to a significant reduction in demand. According to Snam data processed by Staffetta Quotidiana, in October there was a drop of 23.3 percent: in particular thanks to the reduction in consumption in the civil sector (-43.5 percent) and industry (-23, 6 percent).

While waiting for the new government to define the fiscal space to intervene in support of families and businesses, until the end of the year the Aid bis decree approved by the executive led by Mario Draghi eliminates the general system charges.

• Maria Carla Sicily
  

• Born in Cosenza in 1988, she has lived in Rome for more than ten years. Every year she thinks that she will leave the city of holes and the Colosseum, but so far she has always found good reasons to stay. One of these is the Foglio, where you started working in 2017. Today you are in charge of coordinating the Foglio.it.