In Italy and in all the countries in which it operates, Enel is committed to improve and ensure continuous accessibility to electricity in the poorest areas and for people who are less well off.
In order to facilitate access to energy for low-income customers, as of 2008 for electricity and 2009 for gas, more than 1,500,000 people are granted a “social bonus”, which is financed by means of government funds and specific tariff elements established by the Authority.
At the end of 2010, more than 1,500,000 families were granted the electricity bonus in Italy, while about 640,000 gas customers were granted this benefit. Of all these, more than 780,000 families received services from Enel Servizio Elettrico and more than 100,000 (divided between electricity and gas customers) from Enel Energia.
Within initiatives and programmes aimed at improving and ensuring the continuity of access to electricity, in case of disasters (natural or otherwise) Enel takes action either by working together with the appropriate administrative entities (Civil Protection, rules from the government or from local entities) or spontaneously taking “good sense” and “good citizenship” action wherever the Group operates. In most cases, this means a provisional deferral of due dates for payments.
Also, in case of interruption of the service for lack of payment, following the introduction of the electronic meter, in most cases customers of the electricity service are not deprived altogether of this service, since the available capacity is reduced to 15% of that foreseen by the contract. This amount of energy is sufficient for essential services (lighting, fridge) until the overdue sum is paid.
In 2010 Enel granted facilitated tariffs and payments for the population of Abruzzo that was affected by the 2009 earthquake (in line with administrative provisions issued by the appropriate authorities). Also, it granted the provisional deferral of payment terms for the population affected by the flood in Veneto, the landslides in Sicily and Calabria and for the families involved in the train disaster in Viareggio.
Also in Spain, the government launched an initiative similar to the “social bonus” (Bono Social). Electricity prices frozen to tariffs in effect on June 30, 2009, so that customers who were granted it did not have to suffer price rises applied over the last 18 months. The voucher was granted to customers with consumption capacity below 3 kW, retired customers, families in which every member in working age is unemployed and big families.
Also in Argentina, the companies of the Group supply the needed energy both directly, by means of rural electrification projects, and indirectly, by facilitations including the financial support of connection costs (infrastructure building and adjustment) by reducing the amount of the bill.
In Brazil, low-income residential and rural customers are granted up to 65% reductions of the official tariff, by virtue of the “Social Tariff Program Low Income” of the federal government. Additional facilitations are also granted to indigenous peoples, who have a right to greater reductions.
In Romania, customers that are considered “vulnerable” (elder people, those with health problems or in unfavourable social conditions) are granted facilitated electricity supply, following a decision from the government or from local authorities.
Last update: 19/07/2011
