Being a small business, and independent worker, or owning an office, is not just a commitment from a business and employment point of view. It also means paying attention to expenses, which can be a quite complex task, especially in times of rate increases. Now more than ever before, this issue is particularly pertinent, as global energy cost increases are having a major impact on utility bills, both at home and at work.

There are some practical tips that can be useful to manage your business with prudence, especially at a time in which the energy market is about to embrace a big transformation.

As of January 1^st, 2024, the “Servizio di Maggior Tutela” will disappear. The news is reported in detail on the Servizio Nazionale Elettrico website. However, from January 1^st, 2021 the progressive overcoming of the “Servizio di Maggior Tutela” has already begun for certain categories of customers:

While awaiting the definitive change in 2024, for the above-mentioned SMEs that have not yet switched to the free market, a transitional regime is in place throughout 2022 and 2023. Of course, no one prevents micro-enterprises from making the leap to the free market already now.

Among the potential benefits of the free market are rates, which generally have some important features to keep in mind:

Here are some best practices to consider when choosing the best rates for your business:

Finally, it is useful to remember that for gas, the rate applied changes in relation to the geographical area in which your company operates.

To help you find the best offer for your business in the vast options of electricity and gas offers, you can consult the Portale Offerte, a public website in which you can compare and choose the offers of electricity and natural gas for your business at a glance.

When it comes to energy saving in a business, it all has to do with everyday life, that can be made up of small tricks that can help to save energy and contain cost:

Pay attention also, especially now, to the subsidized interventions provided for businesses and which may result in eco-bonuses or similar. A valid help to navigate this delicate and complex field is provided by the Ministry for Economic Development. “Incentives” refer to actions that look at improving energy efficiency by installing or upgrading networks and systems of heating and cooling, i.e. the set of closed circuit pipes that supply heated or cooled water for interior of industrial and commercial buildings. The goal is always the same, namely to reduce the energy requirements for heating as much as possible.

A new way to keep energy consumption and budget under control is to consider proposals based on energy obtained from renewable sources.

A current relevant example is energy that is certified through green electricity and gas offers. The tariffs, to be considered green, must draw on energy that is produced from renewable sources, i.e. from installations that can be:

To ensure that the electricity sold is actually from renewable sources and that it is not marketed several times, Arera has established a single valid certification system: the “Garanzia d’Origine”², which is issued by the “Gestore di servizi energetici” (Gse) .

Speaking of alternative energy, it is important to clarify that your business will only be able to purchase green energy on the free market and not with protected contracts such as that of the “Servizio di Maggior Tutela” which, on the other hand, will permanently cease from 2024.

Still on the subject of renewables, another idea could be to install a photovoltaic system: we are talking about “off-grid” systems, that is, for use and consumption, and “grid-connected” systems that allow the production of energy to be resold to the central distribution.

In addition to photovoltaic systems, there are other technologies that guarantee energy savings and, at the same time, state incentives: ranging from heat pumps to energy-efficient air conditioning systems, from solar thermal and thermodynamic to mini-eolic. These are all technologies based on renewable energies that can allow you to access environmental certifications and make your business more and more efficient.