Bills, the turning point: leaks, how the government can defuse the bloodbath
The crux is resources . Because to finance interventions in favor of families and businesses against the high cost of energy, (at least) one billion more is needed. The technicians of the Ministry of Economy and Environment have delivered to the government a package of measures worth more than 3 billion euros. But the funds recovered so far stop at around 2 billion. Without additional sums, the risk is that the intervention will be not very effective. And in the last few hours, a more ambitious goal is also gaining ground in the majority: to reach 5 billion with aid extended for a year and not just for the next six months, as had leaked in recent days. In short, it's a question of money.
Hence Giorgia Meloni 's decision to postpone the Council of Ministers until Friday, which was supposed to approve the bill decree yesterday. It is no coincidence that it was the Prime Minister herself who defined the measure that was emerging as "unsatisfactory" and asked the Minister of the Treasury, Giancarlo Giorgetti, and the Minister of the Environment, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, to "examine" further measures, to give a "more effective response" to families and businesses. "Now they are also arguing among themselves about the measures, they have no idea what to do" attacked the leader of the M5s Giuseppe Conte. The point is that the interventions studied by the technicians of the two ministries are too expensive: the two billion found are not enough to finance them, unless their scope or duration is reduced compared to the six months planned.
There are various hypotheses on the table. At the moment, the extension of the social bonus seems certain, raising the ISEE threshold that allows access from 9,530 euros to 15 thousand (and from 20 to 30 thousand euros for families with at least four children). This measure alone, worth 1.3 billion euros, would allow 5.8 million families to enjoy the bonus. The decree should also include the elimination of the price differential of about two euros between the TTF, the Dutch methane exchange, and the Italian PSV. The cost of the intervention is not exorbitant, we are talking about a few hundred million, but in this way (the price of electricity is linked to that of methane) savings of 1.3 billion euros would be produced for consumers. For businesses, on the other hand, the discussion is on strengthening the so-called energy release , which gives energy-intensive companies the possibility of purchasing electricity at controlled prices.
The funds could come from the extension of expiring hydroelectric concessions with the obligation to cede to the GSE (Energy Services Manager) the rights to a portion of the energy produced and from the crackdown on operators who charge extra costs on their bills or do not provide the discounts due. The extension of the concessions is subject to the presentation of an investment plan that must receive approval from the Ministry of the Environment and ARERA (the energy authority). As provided for in the latest Budget Law, any additional revenue generated by the extension must be allocated "primarily to reducing energy costs for domestic and non-domestic users". Another 600 million could be recovered from auctions on pollution permits (ETS) that companies must buy in order to produce. Meanwhile, the majority is trying to downplay Monday's disagreement between Meloni and Giorgetti (and reported by Corriere della Sera) on the postponement of the Council of Ministers."There is no case, no lack of confidence in any minister," said the president of the Finance Committee of the Chamber, Marco Osnato. "Let's just say that the resources to be deployed must be significant and well-targeted, so there is an in-depth analysis," underlined the Fdi representative, adding: "I don't think it's inappropriate to try to come up with a provision that is as comprehensive as possible to address this difficult season from an energy point of view." "It's clear," he concluded, "that this on bills can be a necessary provision to stem the emergency, but we are sure that in the next few hours there will also be something more important that will act in the medium term to find a more definitive answer to the problem." Even those in the Northern League are stressing the need to increase resources for the provision. "As the League, we are working on the decree that will go to the Council of Ministers on Friday," with measures "for over 3 billion," explained the president of the Productive Activities Committee of the Chamber, Alberto Gusmeroli. "We have the best Minister of Economy in the world, Giorgetti, as has been said, we are in excellent hands" added the Lega member.
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