Energy, Confindustria: 'Lost opportunity. Immediate table and measures for industry'

Rome, 24 April 2025 - In the aftermath of the final approval in the Senate of the Bills Decree, Confindustria expresses strong concern and opposition for the absence of concrete measures to support the productive heart of the country.

With a view to pursuing the general interest that constantly guides its action, Confindustria had put forward proposals for changes at zero cost, aimed at initiating a first, real and structural easing of the burden of energy bills for companies. The reference is to the rules to extend the reduction of system charges also to industrial SMEs, to the possibility of supplying energy to industrial companies with long-term contracts by the Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE), to the elimination of the existing spread between the European and Italian gas markets, which weighs 1.3 billion euro per year, to the gas and biomethane release, to the removal of constraints to install renewable plants on industrial areas blocked by last year's DL Agricoltura.

However, between amendments that were declared inadmissible, calls for withdrawal and the absence of opinions from the relevant ministries, another useful opportunity for effective action was missed.

The Bills Decree, in fact, does not provide anything for food, textiles, pharmaceuticals, automotive components, furniture, mechanics, footwear, telecommunications, to name but a few of the many examples that could be given of Made in Italy excellence.

It is worth remembering that the energy bill of all Italian industry is well over EUR 20 billion per year and our companies continue to suffer from an energy spread that exceeds 35% and even reaches peaks of 80% when compared to European countries.
Furthermore, one must be aware that Italy's industrial consumption accounts for 42% of the national energy demand (125TWh) and for companies, the energy price is calculated based on the cost of electricity produced with gas, which is the most expensive. Renewable energy production, which accounts for 45% of the energy produced with 115 TWh, does not contribute to a more competitive price for industry.

It is an unsustainable situation for Italian companies. Urgent action is needed.

It is regrettable that during the entire legislative process, Parliament and the Government lacked an awareness of this urgency and nothing was done to strengthen the decree and introduce structural measures to support Italian industry, in keeping with the balance we shared of distributing resources fairly between households and businesses.
For companies facing a prolonged crisis in industrial production and the uncertainty of a trade war, now was the time to receive real support. Instead, they preferred to act with extemporary interventions.

It is now imperative that a path be opened as soon as possible that leads to the definition of a structural and long-term energy plan. One-off measures are no longer enough: we need concrete and consistent actions, where the vision of the future is clear.

Confindustria urgently calls for measures for industry with a new decree-law to structurally reduce energy costs, including immediate and targeted measures to support companies and industrial districts currently excluded from the approved measures.

Not dealing with the cost of energy means jeopardising the survival of the excellence of our industrial districts. These are precisely the companies that produce the 626 billion in exports that keep our economy alive.