ROMA (ITALPRESS) – The geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the risk of a deterioration of international energy flows report the energy among the main concerns of market tertiary companies. According to Confcommercio, compared to 2019, last year before the pandemic and energy crisis, tertiary companies record a higher electricity cost of 28.8% and the higher gas of 70.4%. A possible aggravation of tensions in the Gulf area and possible restrictions in energy transit through the Strait of Hormuz could result in further delays. In a prudential scenario, bills could average increase by 4.3% for electricity and 3% for gas, while in the most critical scenario increases could exceed 13% for electricity and 43% for gas.
In the latter case, for hotels the increase of monthly expenditure would be 900 euros for electricity and 1000 euros for gas, for large supermarkets to 700 euros for electricity and 400 for gas, while for bars, restaurants and shops, food and not, the rinks could vary from 100 to 300 euros for electricity and from 200 to 500 euros for gas.
For Confcommercio it is therefore necessary to strengthen the public presidium against the volatility of energy markets and speculative phenomena, giving full implementation to the measures envisaged by the bills decree and alongside them to further emergency interventions able to produce rapid effects on costs for enterprises. In particular, among the priorities indicated by the Confederation there is the need to attenuate the impact of energy recovery, in particular supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises more exposed to price volatility.
And it is necessary to make fully operational the instruments provided for by the bills decree, favoring the mechanisms of aggregation of the application in order also to allow smaller enterprises to access long-term contracts for energy from renewable sources and continuing in the simplification of procedures for investments in energy efficiency and for the diffusion of distributed renewable sources.
Confcommercio’s president, Carlo Sangalli, says: “In the face of the growing conflict in the Middle East, it is a priority to avoid a new energy shock to our business system. In particular, small and medium-sized enterprises which are most exposed to price volatility. So, rapid measures are needed to contain energy costs, starting immediately from the further reduction of general system charges.”.
– Photo press office Confcommercio –
(ITALPRESS).
