Energy, gradual protections: the ministry considers an extension until 31 December 2027. Here's what can happen

The Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security is evaluating the extension, to 31 December 2027, of the gradual protection service for electricity (Stg), the transitional supply regime established by Arera to accompany non-vulnerable domestic customers, micro-enterprises and SMEs towards the free market and whose expiry is currently set at 31 March. So much so that the Authority led by Nicola Dell'Acqua is sending communications in the bills of customers served by the Stg that explain what will happen: from April 1st 2027 the service will no longer be available and will remain only as a service of last resort, reserved for customers without a seller.

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The hypotheses being studied by Mase

Now, however, as mentioned, the ministry is studying an extension of the deadline. But in which direction? Among the hypotheses under study, there is the possibility that, from 1 April to 31 December 2027, in the absence of a choice of an offer on the free market, the supplier of the gradual protection service will continue to apply to non-vulnerable domestic customers the current commercial supply conditions or, if more advantageous, the conditions of the best offer made by the same supplier to the same customers.

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The goal of the ministry: to allow more time for an informed choice

The objective of the move by the ministry led by Gilberto Pichetto Fratin is to guarantee non-vulnerable domestic customers a wider time margin to evaluate the offers available on the free market and consciously choose their supplier, while at the same time encouraging greater information and more active participation of consumers in the energy market.

What happens to clients served in graduated protections in the absence of choice

While waiting to understand how the changes desired by Mase will land, it must however be clarified what is happening at the moment, in the absence of changes to the structure decided with the establishment of this service. Non-vulnerable customers served in the Stg who, by 31 March 2027, have not chosen a free market offer, with the current seller or with another, will automatically switch to the free market offer proposed by their seller of the gradual protection service, i.e. the offer, among those available in December 2026, with the lowest estimated annual expenditure. This step, Arera also clarified in the note sent yesterday, will take place without interruptions to the supply, without signing a new contract and without changing the methods of receiving the bill. The economic conditions will be valid for at least 12 months and there are no costs in case of early withdrawal.

The Arera communications timetable