È obbligatorio pagare il conguaglio?

Sì. Se i consumi riportati corrispondono a quelli reali e non vi sono errori di lettura, il conguaglio è dovuto. È sempre possibile richiedere la rateizzazione al proprio fornitore qualora l'importo risulti difficile da sostenere in un'unica soluzione.

Dopo quanti anni scade il conguaglio?

La prescrizione è fissata a due anni, ma le decorrenze variano: per l'energia elettrica dal 1° marzo 2018, per il gas dal 1° gennaio 2019. Il fornitore non può richiedere il pagamento di conguagli relativi a consumi avvenuti più di 24 mesi prima della data di emissione della bolletta.

Come si riconosce il conguaglio in bolletta?

Nella sezione "Dettaglio consumi" è presente la lettera S per i consumi stimati e R per quelli reali. La presenza della voce "conguaglio" o "ricalcolo" indica che si tratta di una bolletta di conguaglio. Anche un importo anomalo rispetto alla media dei mesi precedenti è un segnale.

Cosa fare se si riceve un conguaglio sulla bolletta della luce?

Il conguaglio sull'energia elettrica è raro grazie ai contatori elettronici. Se si riceve, è consigliabile verificare il funzionamento del contatore e controllare che non vi siano errori di fatturazione, contattando il servizio clienti del proprio fornitore.

È possibile evitare il conguaglio del gas?

Sì. Comunicando l'autolettura del contatore del gas nei periodi indicati dal fornitore, la bolletta si basa sui consumi reali, riducendo significativamente la probabilità di ricevere un conguaglio elevato a fine anno.

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Bill adjustment

Power and Gas

Bill adjustment: what it is and how it works

From estimates to actual consumption. Discover how to check the adjustment, when it arrives and how to manage it with awareness.

The term bill adjustment often generates uncertainty, but it represents a physiological step in the billing cycle of Energy supplies.

It is the recalculation that the supplier carries out to align payments based on estimates with the consumption actually recorded by the meter. Knowing how it works helps you check the amount, understand your rights and, if necessary, act with awareness.

What is bill adjustment and why is it issued?

The adjustment is not an extra expense or a penalty, but an accounting correction. In the Energy market, billing can take place in two main ways: based on recorded consumption, communicated by the distributor or through Self-reading, or on estimated consumption, based on the user’s history.

When actual data is not available for a certain period, the supplier issues bills based on a forecast. The adjustment is triggered when the actual data becomes available.

The issue can lead to two distinct situations:

Debit adjustment: the user pays the difference between what has already been paid and what was actually consumed.

Credit adjustment: the supplier reimburses the excess, usually through a discount on the next bill.

This mechanism applies both to the Power bill and to the gas bill, with some differences linked to how meter data is recorded, and guarantees that each customer pays exclusively for the Energy or gas actually withdrawn from the grid. The transparency of this process is regulated by ARERA, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment, which establishes precise criteria for consumption reporting.

Power and gas adjustment: differences and causes

The mechanism is the same for both supplies, but the causes and frequency change significantly.

Gas: adjustment is almost routine

For gas, adjustment is frequent. In many cases, gas meters still do not have remote reading: in the absence of a Self-reading communicated by the user, the supplier is forced to rely on estimates. According to ARERA rules, the frequency of official readings depends on annual consumption:

up to 500 Smc, standard cubic metres: actual reading at least once a year;

between 500 and 1,500 Smc: actual reading at least twice a year;

from 1,500 to 5,000 Smc: actual reading at least three times a year;

over 5,000 Smc: actual reading at least once a month.

In the months when an official reading is not carried out, bills are based on estimates. When the actual data arrives, the adjustment is triggered to correct the differences accumulated during the period.

Power: adjustment is increasingly rare

For electricity, the situation is different. Second-generation electronic meters, 2G, allow remote reading by the distributor. In this way, the supplier receives actual data regularly and bills are based on actual consumption. An adjustment on the Power bill can occur in specific cases: meter malfunction, technical delays in data transmission or change of supplier.

	Power	Gas
Remote reading	Yes (daily for 2G)	Not always available
Adjustment frequency	Rara	Frequent, 1–3 times/year
Preventive tool	Self-reading, optional	Self-reading, recommended

How the adjustment is calculated and how to read it on your bill

The calculation is relatively straightforward: the supplier compares the actual consumption recorded with the sum of the estimated consumption already billed in the same period. The difference is multiplied by the Energy price, net of taxes and system charges.

How to recognize it on your bill:

in the Consumption Detail section, the letter S indicates estimated consumption and R indicates actual consumption;

the adjustment appears as a separate item, with a positive amount, debit, or negative amount, credit;

an anomalous amount compared to the average of previous months is a sign not to be ignored.

How to avoid adjustment and what to do if it is too high

The most effective way to reduce the risk of high adjustments is to communicate the Self-reading regularly, within the time windows indicated on the bill. In this way, billing is based on actual consumption, not on estimates.

How to carry out the Self-reading:

read the display of the gas or Power meter;

communicate the data to the supplier via app, online Customer Area, toll-free number or counter;

respect the dates indicated on the bill for correct validation by the distributor.

Legal protections provided by law

When payment by instalments is a right

In case of error: how to dispute the adjustment

The 2018 Budget Law, No. 205/2017, introduced the two-year limitation period: the supplier cannot request payment of adjustments relating to consumption that took place more than two years before the bill issue date. This protection came into force at different times for the two supplies:

Power: starting from 1 March 2018.
Gas: starting from 1 January 2019.

Bills with a due date before these dates continue to be subject to the previous five-year limitation period.

If the amount is high, it is possible to request payment by instalments. ARERA establishes that this is a customer right in the cases provided for by regulation.

For the Power bill, payment by instalments is mandatory when the adjustment bill exceeds by 150% the average charge of the bills based on estimated consumption that preceded it, or in the event of meter malfunction.

For the gas bill, payment by instalments is mandatory when the adjustment bill is more than double, 200%, the highest amount billed in the bills based on estimated consumption that preceded it, unless the difference is due solely to the seasonal variation in consumption, or in the event of meter malfunction or missed readings with an accessible meter.

In both cases, payment by instalments is not applicable for amounts below €50 and must be requested within the deadlines indicated on the bill.

If a billing error is suspected, it is possible to send a written complaint to the supplier indicating: customer code, POD code for Power or PDR code for Gas, number of the disputed bill and description of the problem.

The available channels include registered letter with return receipt, certified e-mail and online Customer Area. Starting from 1 July 2026, an online form will be available for submitting complaints without the need for registration, as provided for by the new ARERA provisions, Resolution 399/2025/R/com.

The supplier has 30 calendar days to respond to the written complaint. In the event of a response after this deadline, it must pay the customer, in the first useful bill, an automatic compensation of €30.

In the event of no response or an unsatisfactory outcome, it is possible to contact the ARERA Consumer Help Desk to start a free conciliation procedure.

Manage bill adjustment with greater peace of mind: choose the right offer

Bill adjustment is not a problem in itself: it is a physiological mechanism of the Energy system. It only becomes critical when it generates unexpected amounts due to inaccurate estimates or poor communication between supplier and user.

Choosing a supplier that offers clarity on consumption, digital tools and concrete support can make a real difference in managing monthly bills. Enel Power and gas offers are designed to guarantee transparency and control over your consumption.

Discover Power and Gas offers

Frequently asked questions

Yes. If the consumption shown corresponds to actual consumption and there are no reading errors, the adjustment is due. It is always possible to request payment by instalments from your supplier if the amount is difficult to pay in a single solution.

The limitation period is set at two years, but the start dates vary: for Power from 1 March 2018, for gas from 1 January 2019. The supplier cannot request payment of adjustments relating to consumption that took place more than 24 months before the bill issue date.

In the “Consumption Detail” section, the letter S indicates estimated consumption and R indicates actual consumption. The presence of the item “adjustment” or “recalculation” indicates that it is an adjustment bill. An anomalous amount compared to the average of previous months is also a sign.

Adjustment on electricity is rare thanks to electronic meters. If you receive one, it is advisable to check that the meter is working properly and verify that there are no billing errors by contacting your supplier’s customer service.

Yes. By communicating the Self-reading of the gas meter during the periods indicated by the supplier, the bill is based on actual consumption, significantly reducing the likelihood of receiving a high adjustment at the end of the year.