Italy asks EU to drop tax break for electricity over gas
At an EU Energy Council meeting in Luxembourg, Italy's energy minister Gilberto Pichetto asked that Article 18c be removed from a draft regulation on network charges. The article would give electricity more favorable tax treatment than gas, which Italy says would strain household and business finances. He also pushed for few, meaningful efficiency targets after 2030 instead of binding ones.
What does it mean?
The EU is debating whether electricity should be taxed more lightly than gas. Italy wants that idea dropped, arguing it would cost the state money and could push up electricity prices by raising gas prices. Nothing has been decided yet; this is still a discussion stage.
Who is affected?
Households and businesses paying energy bills in Italy, and the electricity sector more broadly.