Power and gas social bonus

The social bonus is a discount on the bill, provided by the Government and made operational by the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment, to ensure savings on energy and natural gas expenditure for families in conditions of economic and physical hardship.

The following bonuses are provided:

For the first quarter of 2024, the 2024 Budget Law has provided for an extraordinary contribution, to be granted only to customers in the electricity sector experiencing economic hardship, in addition to the ordinary bonus. Starting from the second quarter of 2024, electricity and gas social bonuses return to the levels specified for the ordinary regime.

Power and gas social bonus: who is entitled to it

To access the 2024 economic hardship bonus, one of the ISEE family members must be the holder of an active electricity or gas supply contract* ( supplies temporarily suspended due to arrears are also considered active) with a tariff for domestic uses (i.e. which supply rooms used for family homes); furthermore it must belong to one of the following categories:

  • family unit with ISEE indicator not exceeding 9,530 euros**;
  • family unit with at least 4 dependent children (large family) and ISEE indicator not exceeding 20,000 euros.

(*) To access the gas bonus it is also necessary to be connected to the city gas network, since the benefit cannot be recognized if cylinder gas is used; furthermore, natural gas must be used for heating and/or food cooking and/or domestic hot water production and the gas meter (meter) installed in the home must not be of a class higher than G6 (the maximum class of the meter installed for domestic users).

(**) during 2024, family units with ISEE 2023 certification between €9,530 and €15,000 will continue to be recognized any remaining portions of the bonus relating to that year.

How to obtain the electricity and gas social bonus for economic hardship

From 1 January 2021 (as provided for by the legislative decree of 26 October 2019 n. 124, converted with amendments by law 19 December 2019, n. 157), to obtain the  bonus for economic hardship it is sufficient to present every year (for example to the Municipality, CAF, INPS) theSingle Substitute Declaration  (DSU) in order obtain a sub-threshold ISEE certificate.

The Single Self-Declaration presented to access subsidized social benefits (school canteen, maternity allowance, baby bonus, etc.), also allows automatic access to the bonus for economic hardship, if necessary the conditions exist.

For customers with a bonus currently being paid, the benefit for 2024, if the requirements are met, will start continuously from the day following the end of the benefit period for the 2023 social bonus.

Power bonus for physical hardship: who is it for

The power bonus for physical hardship is a relief recognized in case of serious health conditions; it can be get by all domestic customers suffering from serious illness or domestic customers with electricity where a person suffering from serious illness lives, forced to use electro-medical equipment, which involves a high consumption of electrical energy, necessary for keeping it alive.

How to get the social bonus for physical hardship

To access the bonus for physical hardship, it is necessary to submit a request to the Municipality of residence by the owner of the power supply (even if different from the patient) or to the designated bodies by the Municipality, such as the CAF enabled. The subsidy is not linked to the ISEE and its amount depends on the annual consumption of the life-saving machinery used.

Visit the page dedicated to Social Bonus on the ARERA website to get more information.