Recent resolutions of Italian Regulator on the continuity of electricity supply

The paper describes the resolutions of the Italian Regulator on the continuity of electricity supply and the comments of some distribution operators in the Italian electrical market, opened by the law decree 79/99 in March 1999. In this framework, the Italian Regulator for the Electrical Energy and Gas specified the criteria to record and process the data of continuity of supply to customers (Resolutions 128/99 and 143100) and the targets of continuity improvements to be pursued by distribution operators, the related system of premiums and penalties included (Resolutions 202/99 and 144/00). These Resolutions, together with the Resolution 201/99 concerning commercial indices, abolished the previous reference established by law through the Charter of Electricity Service, that imposed distribution operators to supply their customers with an electricity product characterised by quality parameters (technical and commercial) declared by the operator. Starting from the year 2000 utilities are free, as a marketing practice, to declare better levels than those imposed by the above mentioned Resolutions and even to add further indices to those imposed by the Regulator. The Regulator addressed the continuity of electricity supply, according to the criteria established by the law decree 79/99, taking into account: the average Italian situation of continuity of supply, not yet in line with the best European practices (in particular France and United Kingdom); and the persistence of deep differences among geographical areas of the country (above all between North and South)