THEhe week opens with important news for many Italian families: while the Government takes time on the bill bonus it promised, the Arerathe regulatory authority for energy, networks and the environment, has instead the amounts of the social bonus have been made official, the discount applied on electricity and gas bills which is automatically deducted from bills, to help those with low incomes or health problems. New rules, then, set precise parameters that allow us to know right now how much you can save over the next twelve months.
Social bonus, how the automatic discount works
To obtain these benefits you do not need to submit a specific application to your supplier. The mechanism is activated thanks to the ISEEthe document that certifies the wealth of the family unit. For 2026lThe threshold to be entitled to it is set at 9,530 euros for families with up to three childrenwhile the ceiling rises to 20,000 euros for larger ones, with at least four dependent children. Everything that needs to be done is to present the DSUthe Single Self-Declaration, the form necessary for the calculation of your economic indicator, which can also be requested in a pre-compiled form on the INPS website. If the data is within the limits, the discount is applied month after month without further bureaucratic steps.
The amounts foreseen for electricity
The discount on electricity varies based on how many people make up the family:
- for those who live alone or as a couple, the authority has established an annual benefit of 146 euros
- if there are three or four people in the house, the contribution rises to around 186 euros
- for larger families that exceed four members there is a reduction of over 204 euros per year
These are figures which, although spread over time, they guarantee a constant breath of fresh air against expensive energywith savings that for the most numerous exceed 50 cents a day.
Arera has made official the reconfirmation of the social bonus directly on the bill (Getty)
Savings for gas based on the climate
As for natural gasthe calculation is slightly more complex because it takes into account where you live and how you use the supply. The discount is in fact influenced by the climate zone: those who live in very cold areas receive more substantial help than those who live in mild areas. In the warmest areas of Italy, the discount starts from around 39 euros a year for families who use gas only for cooking, while in mountainous or more rigid areas, the bonus for those who also use gas for heating can reach almost 156 euros per year. This system allows you to balance expenses based on the real thermal needs of each region.
Special help for health reasons
Then it exists a form of support dedicated to families where a person lives who requires electrical medical equipment to survive. This particular help, called “bonus for physical discomfortor”is independent of income and is added to economic income. The amount depends on the energy consumed by the machinery: they range from a minimum of 142 euros up to peaks of over 460 euros a year for the most serious cases. It is a fundamental protection that guarantees the continuity of care without it weighing unsustainably on household finances.
New protections against delays and complaints
In addition to economic discounts, new rules came into force from 1 January 2026 to protect consumers in their relationships with sales companies. If a customer sends a complaint via the forms on the suppliers’ sites, the company has the obligation to respond within 30 days. If it is an error in the bill calculation, the time may take longer, but if the company is slow to provide explanations, the customer will automatically receive compensation ranging between 25 and 75 euros, credited directly as a discount on the invoice.