Tuesday, August 4, 2015

The Authority raises bill clear: “I pay what consumption ‘- Il Sole 24 Ore

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This entry was posted on August 4, 2015 at 11:43.
The last change is the 4 August 2015 at 13:06.

The Authority raises energy transparency. More and more bills based on actual consumption thanks to the new obligations of reading, to use incentives dell’autolettura
from the client and criteria to reduce the difference between estimated and actual values; increase the frequency of sending bills and automatic compensation for delays; prohibition of bills mixed, that is with the actual data and estimated, in the case of choice of monthly billing. Deadlines for bills of closure when changing supplier, contract transfers or off. These – according to a note of the Authority – the main proposals to resolve some of the problems that still exist in terms of billing, presented with the Consultation document Billing in the retail market ’405/2015 / R / COM, after the measures already implemented the measure on gas metering (117/2015 / R / gas). All stakeholders will be able to get their comments by 30 September 2015. The measures, which apply to all small customers, both in protection and in the free market, are also based on the first results from a cognitive Authority billing, which establishes that bills based on actual consumption (ie not containing estimated consumption) are 75% of the total in the electricity sector – where 98% of clients have the electronic meter telemanaged – while they are 8.5% in gas, where, however, the spread of the meters managed remotely is just starting. In detail, the Authority proposes to intensify the frequency of billing, with the possibility of agreeing on a higher frequency than those required by the regulation, even for a greater awareness of their consumption. For example, for those who consume between 500 and 5,000 cubic meters / year by the minimum obligation of sending passes from the current 2 or 3 times a year for a period at least two months, as for the majority of electricity customers. In addition, the billing frequency must always be consistent with the period of consumption (for example, if the contract provides that the bill is issued every two months, the invoice must refer to bimonthly consumption) and the invoice will be issued within 45 days after the reference period, on pain of automatic compensation of 20 euro in favor of the customer. As it regards the readings, for the counters not tele-managed electric aims to bring the minimum obligation of collecting data from annual to four months, being obliged to repeat the attempt to read if for two consecutive times had not been successful and if there were no self-reading available. Furthermore, the distributor shall publish on its website the calendar of the steps of the personnel responsible, at least organized by zip code (postcode). To reduce the phenomenon of mixed bills (estimated and actual consumption), in the case of meters managed remotely aims to introduce a ban on sending them to more than 40% of customers served by the seller and the prohibition to issue invoices for those with mixed or single monthly billing. For customers with no counter also managed remotely, if you send the self-reading, is expected instead that it can no longer receive an invoice mixed with estimated consumption subsequent to the moment of self-reading. If the actual measurement data are not available as a result of switching and transfers for meters not managed remotely or in the case have already been issued two invoices consecutive payment counters managed remotely, the seller will guarantee the customer the opportunity dell’autolettura, making available one or more channels to communicate and timely to do so; once you will have to send the data to the distributor for its validation for billing purposes. Finally, to improve the discipline of invoices closing of the contract (in case of change supplier, perfecting and deactivation) of any type of user, gas or electricity, domestic and non, it is expected to ensure compliance with the maximum time of receipt 6 weeks required by law, the issue of which takes place at the latest 8 days before the expiration of the same six weeks, also considering a reduction of 8 days in the case of delivery of the bill by mail or web. In case of delay are provided automatic compensation for the consumer or for the seller to the distributor if the delays in the provision of measurement data. The Energy Authority – said a note of the national consumer – made proposals on periodicity of invoices and actual consumption, in particular, to reduce the phenomenon of mixed bills (estimated and actual consumption), in the case of meters telemanaged aims to introduce a ban on sending them to more than 40% of customers served by the seller and the prohibition to issue invoices for those with mixed or single monthly billing. “A step forward, but not enough -declares Massimiliano Dona, Secretary of the Association -. Must, both in the protected market that in the free market, are prohibited, in the case of electronic meters, bills mixed and that billing always corresponds to the actual consumption. It is a sacred right of the consumer to pay for what it buys and uses really. Not just reserve the prohibition to issue invoices mixed only to those who choose monthly billing. As regards, however, the gas market, we need to introduce the obligation within a time reasonably fast to replace the old meters with those managed remotely. ” The consultation document 405/2015 / R / COM and its technical depth, please visit www.autorita.energia.it.



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