District heating, green light from Arera to the social bonus for families in economic difficulty

After those already active for water, electricity, gas and waste, the social bonus for district heating also arrives. The benefit was designed to accommodate families in conditions of economic hardship and was approved by the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment (Arera) with a resolution that implements the provisions of the Bills decree of February 2026.

The beneficiaries of the measure will be able to count on a reduction in average spending equal to approximately 15% net of taxes.

The benefit will be recognized by October 2027, only once the adaptation of the operating systems has been completed. Direct customers will receive it on the invoice, while condominium customers will receive it via bank transfer. The first disbursement will ensure that the recipients of the measure receive both the bonus for 2026 and 2027.

The district heating social bonus is recognized for twelve months starting from the first day of the month in which the SII (Integrated Information System) carries out the necessary checks and notifies the competent district heating service manager of the information necessary for the purposes of providing the benefit.

The overall amount of the bonus is equal to that of the social gas bonus and, just like the latter, is the result of a calculation that takes into account the climatic zone to which the supply point belongs (Italy is divided into six climatic zones), the number of members of the family unit (more or less than four members) and the use associated with the supply (only for heating or also for the production of domestic hot water).