Arcense Gas Reimbursements Begin After 1987 Tariff Disputes

“Better late than never.” This is the comment from more than four thousand Arcense users of methane, following the recent arrival of the third bimester bill, which includes the first reimbursement for the tariff discount that was absent from 1995 until last year.

Details on reimbursements and figures

According to Sigesa, the gas service provider, in the coming months it will be the turn of the amounts paid in excess from 1994 back to 1987. For household consumers, mainly the majority, these are not exorbitant figures, which instead concern industrial companies, artisan businesses, and large residential complexes. Nonetheless, they are eagerly awaited to help balance sometimes tight domestic budgets.

A practical example. A household customer, who was billed 503,000 lire (excluding various taxes) for methane consumption in January and February of this year, received a refund of 255,000 lire for the period from March 1995 to September 1997, and 152,000 lire from October 1997 to February of last year. The first amount, including VAT, was deducted immediately, while the second will be deducted in September.

Reactions and initiatives by institutions

The municipal administration welcomed Sigesa’s initiative, which has initiated legal action to ensure that each user receives back the excess paid since 1987. In that year, an agreement was made, which was not implemented until February 1999, granting a 10% tariff discount until 1990 and a 3% discount until 2007, when the contract with Sigesa will expire.

Initially, the gas company claimed it was impossible to quantify individual claims. Now, unexpectedly, the opposite is happening. Deputy Mayor Prandi announced that an audit of the calculations is underway to clarify the discrepancies that have emerged with Sigesa regarding the size of the reimbursements.