Everything you need to know about the free power and gas market

What is the free market

The free market allows consumers to freely choose their electricity and natural gas provider, rather than being served under regulated conditions and economic terms set by the Energy, Networks, and Environment Regulatory Authority.

It is important to note that the transition to the free market is a voluntary option and consumers who prefer to remain on the "protected market" can do so without any obligation to change supplier, until the protections of price is over. The overcoming of such, for non-vulnerable domestic customers, is expected for the enhanced protection electricity starting from July 2024, while the gas protection ended on 31/12/2023.

However, for those who wish to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the free market, it is possible to make the transition in a simple and transparent way, maintaining continuity of service without interruptions.

Learn more about the convenience of the free energy market.

Vulnerable Domestic Customers

Vulnerable domestic customers of electricity and gas are considered to be those who fall into one of the following conditions:

• Are over 75 years of age;
• Benefit from social bonus for economic hardship (for more details, please refer to our dedicated section on social bonus) under Article 1, paragraph 75, of Law 124/17;
• Are in serious health conditions requiring the use of medical-therapeutic equipment powered by electricity (or where individuals in such conditions are present);
• Have disabilities under Article 3 of Law 104/92;
• Are holders of a supply located in emergency housing;
• Have a utility on an interconnected minor island (only for domestic customers with electricity supply); 

Vulnerable domestic customers supplied in the enhanced protection service will continue to be served, even after July 1, 2024, in the Enhanced Protection Service.

Who can switch to the free market and how

All customers are free to choose the offers for the supply of power or gas proposed by the sales companies that operate on the free market in competition with each other. By choosing one of these offers, you automatically switch to the free market. 

What is the enhanced protection service

It is the power supply service reserved for customers who have chosen not to enter the free market; the contractual and economic conditions are established by the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment and are updated quarterly in the electricity enhanced protection service and monthly in the gas protection service. Customers who want to switch to the free market can withdraw from their contract with the enhanced electricity protection service and with the gas protection service at any time by subscribing to a free market offer.

If the non-vulnerable domestic customer does not subscribe to an offer in the free market, starting from July 2024, their supply will automatically transition, without any interruption, to the Gradual Protection Service (Servizio a Tutele Graduali - STG); in this service, contractual and economic conditions will be defined by ARERA (the Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks, and the Environment) based on the outcomes of competitive procedures.

For more information read our article on electricity and gas protection.

What is the difference between the free market and the enhanced protection service

The difference lies in the choice of power and gas seller by consumers. 

• Free market: consumers freely choose their electricity seller and the offer closest to their needs.
• Enhanced protection service/vulnerability protection (for gas): consumers use the basic service provided by the supplier at the economic and contractual conditions defined by ARERA.

Learn more in our article on the differences between the free and protected market.

How much does it cost to switch to the free market

The change of vendor does not involve any cost, with the exception of any costs connected with signing the contract, such as stamp duty and security deposit (which is charged only if the payment of the bills is not is domiciled on a payment card, bank account, post office or Paypal).