How is on-site exchange changing after 2024?

The gradual exit of renewable/high-yield co-generation plants from the Scambio sul Posto (SSP) regime began as of 31 December 2024. This is the mechanism, regulated by the GSE (Gestore Servizi Energetici - Energy Services Manager), which allows customers who, for example, install a photovoltaic system on the roof of their home to offset the electricity produced and fed into the grid at a certain time with the electricity withdrawn and consumed at a different time. 

To be part of the Scambio sul Posto mechanism, it is necessary for both the energy production and consumption systems to be connected to the same grid connection point. With Scambio sul Posto, the energy system is exploited as a virtual storage pool for energy that is not immediately self-consumed, so that it can be reused at a different time with a compensation mechanism.

Recent legislation has introduced provisions for the gradual exit from the Scambio sul Posto system for production installations that already benefit from the mechanism, with the aim of facilitating a gradual transition to other energy remuneration mechanisms such as the Dedicated Withdrawal (RID) scheme. So let's take a more detailed look at how Scambio sul Posto works and the changes affecting domestic renewable energy producers and consumers from 1 January 2025.

How Scambio sul Posto works

Scambio sul Posto is an agreement to receive a contribution from the GSE for energy exchanged with the grid each year. This mechanism allows energy in excess of your own consumption to be fed into the grid and “virtually used” when your home production is not enough, for example at night or on cloudy days. 

Based on the measurements transmitted by the grid operators, the GSE checks how much energy has been withdrawn from and how much has been fed into the customer's connection point, establishing the expected benefit. To access this initiative, you need to enter into an agreement with the GSE, which manages the operation and compensation between energy fed in and withdrawn. 

The agreement lasts for one calendar year and is tacitly renewable. To implement the service, the production system must be connected to a consumer utility - where the energy producer is also a consumer - and connected to the energy grid via the same point where the energy is withdrawn and fed in. 

At the time of its introduction, the Scambio sul Posto initiative was accessible only to production installations powered by renewable sources with a nominal power of up to 20 kW, later extended to 200 kW for installations commissioned after 31 December 2007, and up to a maximum of 500 kW for installations commissioned after 31 December 2014. As well as production installations powered by renewable sources, high-efficiency cogeneration plants with a capacity not exceeding 200 kW are also eligible for the programme.

How the service has changed since the end of 2024

However, since the end of 2024, things have changed. In implementation of Legislative Decree 199/2021 and Decree Law 181/23, ARERA, with resolution 457/2024/R/EFR dated November 5, 2024, defined some initial provisions for the gradual phase-out, starting from December 31, 2024, of photovoltaic systems under the Net Metering agreement (Scambio sul Posto). From January 1, 2025, Net Metering agreements that have been in place for fifteen years since their initial signing date will no longer be renewable.

With ARERA resolution 78/2025/R/EFR dated March 4, 2025, the end of the Net Metering regime was established for systems connected to the grid after May 29, 2025, in accordance with article 9 of Legislative Decree 199/21. For systems connected after this date, the accessible incentive will be the Dedicated Withdrawal (Ritiro Dedicato). For systems connected by May 29, 2025, the final deadline to submit the Net Metering access request to GSE is September 26, 2025.

Since the Net Metering agreements (SSP) last one year, the fifteen-year calculation will be based on when the system first accessed the service, with retroactive effect. Therefore, all systems active since 2009 have seen their agreement duration expire at the end of 2024. Starting January 1, 2025, systems will switch to the Dedicated Withdrawal (RID) agreement, unless they have previously identified a dispatching user for injection other than GSE.

What's new for Net Metering in 2025

As we have seen, the end of Net Metering (SSP) is mandatory for systems with a 15-year contract. For all others, two important deadlines are set for 2025:

• By May 29, 2025, photovoltaic systems must be operational in order to submit the application to join the Net Metering (SSP) mechanism. This application can be submitted until September 26, 2025.

• September 26, 2025, is the final deadline to request activation of the Net Metering (SSP) contract, as established by ARERA Resolution 78/2025/R/efr. At the same time as the publication of the resolution, GSE published on its website the updated Unified Model (valid from May 30, 2025) for the construction, connection, and operation of photovoltaic systems under 200 kW.

What to do if you have a photovoltaic system

If you already have a photovoltaic system, your situation may be one of the following:

• Systems with a Net Metering contract active for over 15 years: the agreement was not renewed and ended on December 31, 2024. GSE will automatically switch these systems to the Dedicated Withdrawal scheme.

• Systems with a Net Metering contract active for less than 15 years: they can continue to benefit from the mechanism until the natural expiration of the contract. However, it will not be possible to renew the agreement beyond the scheduled term.

• New systems (operational by May 29, 2025): it is possible to submit a request to join the Net Metering mechanism by September 26, 2025.

Alternatives to the Scambio sul Posto agreement

Dedicated Withdrawal (RID)

The first and most immediate alternative to the Scambio sul Posto is the RID (Dedicated Withdrawal), a service also managed by the GSE, which allows the producer to market the energy produced by the photovoltaic system and fed into the grid, through the GSE. It is therefore a mechanism to simplify the sale of energy, based on a commercial contract where the GSE will pay the producer a certain price for each kWh fed into the grid. Any power output is allowed for installations producing energy from renewable solar energy sources, and the service can be accessed via the Modello Unico or Modalità Standard on the dedicated page of the GSE's official website.

Renewable Energy Communities (RECs)

You can also choose to join a free Renewable Energy Community (REC), where local energy from renewable sources is produced and shared virtually between producers and consumers located within the geographic area covered by the same primary substation. Private citizens, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and local, research, religious, third sector and environmental protection organisations are all eligible. Within an REC you can be: 

• a producer of renewable energy, with your own photovoltaic system;

• a self-consumer of renewable energy, i.e. producer and consumer with a personal photovoltaic system, sharing excess energy with other members of the community; 

• a consumer only of energy produced by other members

RECs can also access the incentives provided by applying for access to the self-consumption service disseminated by the GSE.

In addition to Renewable Energy Communities, there are other self-consumption arrangements that qualify for the shared energy incentive, such as a group of self-consumers acting collectively or an individual remote self-consumer using the distribution network.

Photovoltaics for your renewable energy

Installing a photovoltaic system is a cost-effective, reliable and sustainable long-term choice, allowing you to reduce pollutant emissions and save on your utility bills. If you are an Enel Energia customer or want to become one, you can enjoy numerous advantages by choosing an Enel Edition or Black Edition photovoltaic system from our website.

Self-produce your own renewable energy, help the environment and save on your energy bills.