How much does it cost to switch electricity and gas supplier in Italy?
Switching an electricity or gas contract in Italy costs EUR 0 for the switching procedure, although the new contract may require stamp duty, a security deposit or another guarantee.
Verifiable answer
Switching an electricity or gas contract in Italy costs EUR 0 for the switching procedure, although the new contract may require stamp duty, a security deposit or another guarantee.
- How much does it cost to switch electricity and gas supplier in Italy?
- €0 / contract switch
- €0
- Italy
- 21 September 2026
- Confidence: High
- Electricity supplier switching procedure; Natural-gas supplier switching procedure; Termination of the old contract handled by the new seller
- The new tariff's standing charge and energy or gas price; Transfer to a new account holder; Reconnection of a closed meter; A new connection or power increase; Any deposit or stamp duty under the new contract
- The new seller's tariff and payment method; Whether the new contract requires stamp duty, a deposit or another guarantee; Fixed or indexed price structure; Actual annual consumption; Any services or instalments left on the previous contract
- 3 sources
Official price versus real cost
Official price
€0
/ contract switch
Difference+€0 (+0%)
Real cost
€0
€0
The official and real cost of the switching procedure are both EUR 0. What can look like a switching charge usually comes from the new contract, which may require stamp duty, a deposit or a guarantee, and from the tariff applied to consumption after the switch.
Short answer
Supplier switching is not a transfer of account holder or a reconnection: the supply point stays active and the seller changes. The procedure is free; the price of the new tariff is a separate question.
Switching electricity and gas supplier is often confused with closing a meter, reconnecting a supply or transferring an account to a new tenant. It is none of those things. In a supplier switch, the supply point remains active and the commercial contract changes. ARERA, Italy's energy regulator, says the procedure has no charge for customers for both electricity and natural gas. That does not mean every item on the first bill will be zero. Stamp duty, a security deposit or another guarantee may be part of the new contract. They are not exit charges from the old supplier; they are conditions of the tariff being chosen. The useful distinction is therefore between the price of executing the switch, which is zero, and the price of using the new tariff afterwards. Standing charges, energy rates, indexation rules and consumption determine that second figure. This guide covers the administrative switch and keeps those two questions separate.
What is included
- Electricity supplier switching procedure
- Natural-gas supplier switching procedure
- Termination of the old contract handled by the new seller
What is not included
- The new tariff's standing charge and energy or gas price
- Transfer to a new account holder
- Reconnection of a closed meter
- A new connection or power increase
- Any deposit or stamp duty under the new contract
How the price breaks down
| Item | Type | Frequency | Minimum | Typical | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity supplier switchThe new supplier starts the switching procedure and terminates the old contract without a charge to the customer. | Compulsory | one-off | — | €0 | — |
| Gas supplier switchFor gas too, the new supplier replaces the previous contract without a switching charge. | Compulsory | one-off | — | €0 | — |
| Possible stamp duty, deposit or guaranteeThey are not the price of switching: they may only be requested under the new contract and depend on the offer and payment method. | Optional | one-off | €0 | €0 | €0 |
What the price depends on
- The new seller's tariff and payment method
- Whether the new contract requires stamp duty, a deposit or another guarantee
- Fixed or indexed price structure
- Actual annual consumption
- Any services or instalments left on the previous contract
Hidden costs
- A security deposit may apply where the new tariff or payment method requires it
- Stamp duty, where due, belongs to entering the new contract rather than to switching
- A low advertised energy rate can be offset by standing charges or a higher indexed formula
- Outstanding instalments for products from the old supplier are not a switching charge
Three realistic scenarios
Electricity only
€0
Switching seller for an active electricity supply: the switching procedure is free.
Electricity and gas
€0
Switching both active supplies: neither switching procedure carries a customer charge.
New tariff with a guarantee
€0
Switching remains free, while the new contract may add a non-uniform guarantee or stamp-duty item.
How to spend less
- Use ARERA's public tariff portal with your actual annual consumption instead of comparing only the advertised unit rate.
- Read the tariff summary before joining and look separately for deposits, stamp duty, standing charges and the length of the price guarantee.
- Do not request a change of account holder if you remain the account holder at the same address: supplier switching is the relevant procedure.
- Keep the last bill available so the supply-point codes and account-holder details can be checked before you apply.
- For an indexed tariff, compare the pricing formula and standing charge as well as the introductory discount.
Frequently asked questions
Is switching electricity and gas supplier really free?
Yes. ARERA states that supplier switching has no cost for customers in both electricity and natural gas. This rule covers the move from one active contract to another. It does not set the price of the new tariff or remove any deposit or stamp duty required by the contract you choose.
Do I have to cancel my old contract myself?
No. In a normal supplier switch, the new seller runs the switching process and terminates the old contract. This differs from permanently closing a supply: if you want the meter disconnected, the procedure and possible charges are different. For a simple change of seller or tariff, the new contract starts the process.
Is switching the same as changing the account holder?
No. A transfer changes the named account holder of an active supply, such as when a new tenant moves in. Switching keeps the account holder and changes only the seller or tariff. Mixing up the two can lead to unnecessary documents and to considering charges that do not belong to a supplier switch.
How long does the switch take?
Timing depends on the sector and technical cycle. In 2026 ARERA reformed the electricity process to reduce the technical procedure to one working day for non-defaulting domestic customers and to complete the overall process within three weeks. Timing and price should be kept separate: the procedure itself remains free.
Is a security deposit a switching charge?
No. ARERA mentions deposits, stamp duty and other guarantees as possible items connected with entering a new contract. They may appear on the first bill, but they are not charges for leaving the old seller or executing the switching procedure. Check them in the tariff summary before you sign up.
Sources and methodology
How we worked it out
The main figure comes from ARERA's electricity and gas service pages, both opened on 21 September 2026. Each states that the new seller starts the switching and termination process and that changing supplier has no cost for the customer. We kept stamp duty, deposits and guarantees as contractual exceptions rather than turning them into a national amount, because ARERA provides no uniform figure and they depend on the tariff selected. ARERA's 2026 electricity switching reform was checked separately for current timing; it was not used to create a price. We exclude the new tariff's energy charges, consumption and any device instalments because they are consequences of the contract or usage, not the cost of switching.
Why this confidence level
Confidence is High because the price of the procedure is stated by two coherent primary regulatory sources, one for electricity and one for gas. We do not assign a national price to stamp duty, deposits or guarantees because ARERA leaves them to the new contract; certainty applies to switching, not to the next bill.
Electricity supplier switching at no charge, except stamp duty or a guarantee under the new contract
ARERA - Servizio elettrico: informazioni generali (opens in a new tab)
ARERA · Regulator · Verified on 21 September 2026
The Authority's page was opened and checked: the new supplier handles switching and termination of the old contract; ARERA excludes a switching charge but separates any stamp duty, deposit or other guarantee required by the new contract.
Authority5/5
Gas supplier switching at no charge, with the same possible new-contract items
ARERA - Servizio gas: informazioni generali (opens in a new tab)
ARERA · Regulator · Verified on 21 September 2026
The ARERA page was opened and compared with the electricity page: it expressly confirms zero cost for gas switching and only the possible stamp duty, deposit or guarantee under the new contract.
Authority5/5
2026 reform: electricity technical procedure in one working day and completion within three weeks
ARERA Delibera 58/2026/R/eel - Riforma del processo di cambio fornitore (opens in a new tab)
ARERA · Regulator · Verified on 21 September 2026
The ARERA measure of 3 March 2026 was opened to check that the rules are current and to keep the zero switching price separate from the technical timing.
Authority5/5
Revision history
First published on 2026-09-21 after directly checking ARERA's electricity and gas pages and its 2026 switching reform measure.
- 21 September 2026
- 21 September 2026
- 21 March 2027
What did you actually pay?
Related guides
How much does transferring electricity and gas contracts in Italy cost?
- €88 / combined procedure
- €72 – €120
Verified on Aug 2026 · 2 sources
How much does activating a new electricity supply in Italy cost?
- €66 / application
- €50 – €101
Verified on Aug 2026 · 2 sources
How much does activating a gas supply in Italy cost?
- €30 / application
- €30 – €60
Verified on Aug 2026 · 1 source