Managing the liberalization of Italy’s retail electricity market: a policy proposal

Italy’s 2015 Annual Competition Law2 provides for phasing out electricity retail prices regulation by July 1st, 2019. Under the current regulatory framework, compliant with the EU regulations,3 all electricity customers are free to choose their preferred supplier. However, residential customer and small and medium enterprises (SMEs)4 retain a right “not to choose”, in which case they are supplied by the local distribution system operator (DSO)5 at a price set by the regulator. This (transitional) scheme, known as “maggior tutela” or “greater protection”, has been in place since July 1st, 2007 . Full liberalization of retail electricity markets is strongly advocated by the EU Commission, as …