In late 2021, ARERA, through Del. no. 610/2021/R/idr and Del. no. 609/2021/R/idr, introduced significant changes regarding the measurement of the integrated water service (TIMSII).
Let's look at them in detail:
- Hidden losses, consumer protection discipline
- Minimum number of readings Annual water meter readings
- Establishment of UNIQUE IDENTIFIER CODE Geolocated utilities
- COMMUNICATIONS FOR INDIRECT USERS
- Two-year prescription Water Consumption Billing
OBLIGATION TO ESTABLISH A UNIQUE IDENTIFIER CODE FOR UTILITIES BY 31 DECEMBER 2023
The unique, geolocated identification code for each contracted utility shall consist of 16 numerical characters, composed as follows:
- Two digits identifying the Istat code of the region in which the user is located
- 6 digits which identify the ISTAT code of the Municipality
- 8-digit sequential numeric code
Where utilities in the same Municipality are served by multiple operators, the competent authority for the area must ensure that they adopt different progressive numerical codes.
CONSUMER PROTECTION FOR LATENT DEFECTS
Del. 609/2021, however, relates to the Measurement of water consumption and in particular introduces new protective provisions for end-users who have been victims of hidden leaks, water leaks occurring downstream of the meter, on the systems for which the user is responsible; these are leaks that are not apparent and cannot be traced with the normal diligence required of the user for the inspection of their property.
In particular:
- Mandates the retailer to include a link on the bill referring to the protections applicable to users affected by hidden leaks;
- In the event of consumption at least double the average daily reference consumption, the user has the option to request the activation of protections in the event of hidden losses.;
- A timeframe for a single user to access protection, not exceeding 3 years from the date of issue of the invoice in which abnormal consumption was detected, and the application of protection also for invoices subsequent to the one in which abnormal consumption was detected for a period of at least 3 months, in order to allow for the repair of the fault.
- price caps, to be applied with reference to the invoice in which the anomalous consumption was recorded and in the subsequent months provided for
- Following demonstration of loss in the environment, exemption from the application of sewage and purification tariffs for volumes exceeding the average daily reference consumption;
- with regard to the water supply service, a tariff not exceeding half the basic tariff shall apply to volumes exceeding the average daily reference consumption, subject to an allowance on billable volumes not exceeding 30%;
- where the manager detects abnormal consumption when collecting the measurement, they are required to provide prompt notification to the user concerned.
Minimum number of measurement attempts
The minimum number of measurement collection attempts is brought to:
- 2 readings for end-users with average annual consumption up to 3,000 m³
- 3 readings for end-users with average annual consumption over 3,000 m³.
Furthermore, it states that the minimum notice period for attempts to collect readings from end-users with inaccessible or partially accessible meters must be at least 48 hours.
COMMUNICATION TO INDIRECT USERS
Service providers are required to communicate certain specific basic information about the service provided to indirect users, at least once a year, and in particular:
- the contact details for emergency services and customer service
- Graphical indication of the aggregated user's consumption, allowing the indirect user to assess variations in average daily water consumption.;
- a comparative indication of average daily consumption – expressed in litres per day per property – for the types of users present in the grouped user;
- the amounts invoiced to the aggregated users relating to at least the last 12 months;
- further guidance regarding grouped users and the tariffs applied to the various types of users present.
Two-year prescription
Del. 610/2021 refers to the two-year limitation period, which is extended to all situations. In fact, the possibility of raising objections to the general discipline of the two-year limitation period for the invoicing of water consumption is REPEALED. Therefore, it will no longer be possible to object, for example, to the exception to the limitation period provided for by the possibility of attributing responsibility for the failure to invoice consumption to the End User.
Contact us for more information on 3486185167 or at commerciale@sikuel.it
photo by Thor Alvis on Unsplash
