What the Basilicata Region will do about water and bills
Presented this morning at a press conference, the project aimed at the construction of three electricity production plants from renewable sources (photovoltaic) in Basilicata, for a maximum total installed power of 49 MWp, which will serve the Acquedotto Lucano plants.
“Deeming it right to make a real contribution to the critical segments of the population, as early as February this year we will be in a position to radically reduce the tariff of the Integrated Water Service (SII) in favor of Lucanian citizens resident with ISEE income equal to or less than thirty thousand euros nod. These are around seventy thousand families, whose water bill is eliminated entirely. And who, therefore, will not pay for water and all the costs shown in the bill, such as purification and sewerage, except for surpluses. But, while the annual consumption standard set at national level is 18.25 cubic meters per person, we have raised the limit to 20 cubic meters per person". This was stated by the president of the Basilicata Region, Vito Bardi, presenting this morning, in a press conference, the project aimed at the construction of three electricity production plants from renewable sources (photovoltaic) in Basilicata, for a maximum total installed power of 49 MWp , which will serve the Acquedotto Lucano systems. The plants, worth 55 million euros, will be financed and built directly by Eni and Shell, who will assume all the economic costs of carrying out the project. The project will translate into tangible benefits for Basilicata such as the decarbonisation of consumption in the water sector, the energy efficiency of water resource management, the reduction of costs associated with the management of water resources and the provision of energy infrastructures in the Basilicata area for the long term.
BARDI: SEVERAL INITIATIVES LAUNCHED FROM THE LUCANO ACQUEDUCT
“On the basis of the directives that the Region gave with the approval of the industrial plan, Acquedotto Lucano is promoting various initiatives aimed at reducing consumption, mitigating its cost and decarbonising its sources, focusing on an electricity supply increasingly linked to renewable sources . In the next two or three years – explained Bardi – in addition to the measures that Acquedotto Lucano spa is already implementing, we will be able to satisfy the entire energy needs of the regional water service through electricity produced solely from renewable sources such as photovoltaic. The savings on energy supply costs thus obtained by Acquedotto Lucano will be used by the latter to reduce bills for less well-off citizens. This is a further and important step towards sustainability and energy efficiency in our region, which began with the 2022 'Gas Bonus' law, which – continued the president – determines a notable reduction in polluting CO2 emissions and a significant energy savings. The planned photovoltaic systems, starting from the sixth year, will remain the exclusive property of the Basilicata Region. They will provide energy at almost free cost, in order to make the decarbonisation of consumption and the reduction of energy costs structural, the main attractor of productive investments in the region with important repercussions on employment".
THE “VALUE” OF THE GAS AND WATER BONUS 
Bardi also focused on the value of the "gas" and "water" bonuses. “The path started with the 'gas' bonus towards the ecological transition requires the acceleration of infrastructure investments, digitalisation and technological innovation. These are necessary and priority measures, made even more urgent in light of the high cost of energy and the resulting inflation. Just as with the 'gas bonus', also with the so-called 'water bonus' – he underlined – we wanted to give back to the Lucanians the assets of their territory. There is only one principle: everything that derives from the exploitation of the territory belongs and must belong directly to the Lucanians, without distinction".
LATRONIC: SUSTAINABILITY KEY WORD
For the Councilor for the Environment and Energy of the Basilicata Region, Cosimo Latronico, present with the other councilors of the regional council, Casino, Galella and Sileo, "sustainability" is the key word of the measure which will have positive repercussions both on the water service and on 'environment. “Acquedotto Lucano is on its way to becoming the first “green” company in Italy, being able to satisfy its energy needs almost. It is an important investment, of 55 million euros, which will serve to power three renewable energy sources in three areas of Basilicata. From February the people of Lucania will have the outcome of this operation on their bills because from now on with its renewable plants Eni will supply the Aqueduct with energy at 82 euros per Megawatt, almost half the current cost, with a budget saving that will result in savings on your bill. This is, therefore, an economic, productive, energy operation desired by the Council and President Bardi, who worked in absolute harmony. There was a test of unity, from a political and technical point of view, a test of good administration."
CASINO: A STRUCTURAL MEASURE
The regional councilor for Development Policies, Michele Casino, spoke at the press conference. “A structural measure has been put in place. In two years – he said – when the plant is built, the number of beneficiaries will certainly increase. Today we can say that beyond the political colour, this administration and this president are giving something back to the territory, investing the resources deriving from the exploitation of oil. In this case for those families who need it most. I am convinced that we are on the right path."
The sole director of Al, Alfonso Andretta, highlighted that "in recent years there has been an explosion in energy costs due to the Ukrainian crisis, going, as regards Acquedotto Lucano, from 24 million in tariff to 55 million in tariff 2022. Despite this, thanks to the intervention of the Region, we have not increased the tariffs, saving each user around a thousand euros. The cost of energy could have become a factor in the company's crisis, today it has become an opportunity thanks to the agreement with Eni, as it allows us not only to have a supply from renewable sources and therefore reduce the production of CO2 for the uses of the Lucanian Aqueduct, but to have a fixed price, which is a base price and is significantly lower than the market cost. It is a structural measure that will last over time."
January 2024 power point renewable water sector development project
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/investimenti/acqua-bollette/ on Wed, 10 Jan 2024 07:00:16 +0000.