The looming question among operators in the Italian energy sector is 'Who will pay?' The government’s forthcoming energy cost decree aims to ease the burden of energy prices for households and businesses in Italy. However, it appears that the financial impact will largely fall on companies relying on thermoelectric power generation using gas. This shift in financial burden has already affected the stock market, where shares of energy and utility companies like Enel and Edison have seen significant declines, notably Enel which lost about 4.66% in just two days, translating to a capital loss exceeding 4 billion euros.

Energy executives, speaking off the record, describe the decree's impact as 'devastating' and are currently assessing the potential financial damage. They estimate that the decree could lead to a reduction of around 25% in revenues from thermoelectric production, which heavily relies on gas. This situation raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of energy production if the financial balance is disturbed, as companies struggle to adapt to these new measures that seem to prioritize cost reduction at the expense of energy producers.

The decree is expected to be discussed in the Council of Ministers, highlighting the ongoing tension between governmental policy objectives and the economic realities faced by energy producers. The decisions made in this meeting could set a precedence for how energy markets operate, potentially jeopardizing the stability and profitability of key players within the industry, while also questioning the effectiveness of such measures in truly providing relief to consumers without harming production capabilities.