Milan, 19 Sept. (LaPresse) – Action must be taken “immediately” on high energy prices, or “consumption and growth are at risk”. This is according to Confcommercio president Carlo Sangalli, commenting on the findings of an analysis on high energy prices presented today by the Confederation. The Confcom-Cer study reveals that in Italy, electricity is up to almost 70 euros per MWh more expensive than in the main EU countries, with gas prices up 161 per cent compared to 2025, and that for the retail, tourism and catering sectors there are “over one billion euros in additional costs”, with “the Italian energy mix, which remains too dependent on gas, weighing heavily on the economy”. “The worsening international situation and the continuous rise in energy costs,” emphasises Sangalli in a statement, “are causing serious difficulties for businesses and eroding household confidence. We must prevent these increases from being passed on in full to bills, through immediate measures and structural reforms, starting with tax incentives for energy efficiency and further action on system charges. At the same time, we must accelerate the roll-out of renewables and the development of sustainable nuclear power, reduce dependence on gas, upgrade grids and storage systems, and reform the mechanism for setting electricity prices.” “It is also important to encourage the uptake of aggregated energy procurement contracts amongst businesses, in order to guarantee favourable and stable prices in the long term. But we must act immediately; otherwise, we will face a new period of inflation that will drastically reduce consumption and the country’s growth,” emphasises the president of Confcommercio.
Energy, Sangalli: “We must act immediately on price rises; consumption and growth are at risk”
Milan, 19 Sept. (LaPresse) – Action must be taken “immediately” on high energy prices, or “consumption and growth are at risk”. This is according to Confcommercio president Carlo Sangalli, commenting on the findings of an analysis on high energy prices presented today by the Confederation. The Confcom-Cer study reveals that in Italy, electricity is up to almost 70 euros per MWh more expensive than in the main EU countries, with gas prices up 161 per cent compared to 2025, and that for the retail, tourism and catering sectors there are “over one billion euros in additional costs”, with “the Italian energy mix, which remains too dependent on gas, weighing heavily on the economy”. “The worsening international situation and the continuous rise in energy costs,” emphasises Sangalli in a statement, “are causing serious difficulties for businesses and eroding household confidence. We must prevent these increases from being passed on in full to bills, through immediate measures and structural reforms, starting with tax incentives for energy efficiency and further action on system charges. At the same time, we must accelerate the roll-out of renewables and the development of sustainable nuclear power, reduce dependence on gas, upgrade grids and storage systems, and reform the mechanism for setting electricity prices.” “It is also important to encourage the uptake of aggregated energy procurement contracts amongst businesses, in order to guarantee favourable and stable prices in the long term. But we must act immediately; otherwise, we will face a new period of inflation that will drastically reduce consumption and the country’s growth,” emphasises the president of Confcommercio.