ARERA
The Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment (ARERA) carries out regulatory and supervisory activities in the sectors of electricity, natural gas, water services, waste cycle and district heating.
Established by Law No. 481 of 1995, ARERA is an independent administrative authority that operates to ensure the promotion of competition and efficiency in public utility services and protect the interests of users and consumers. These functions are performed by balancing operators' economic and financial objectives with general social objectives, for environmental protection and the efficient use of resources.
It also provides advisory services to the Government and the Parliament in matters within its competence, also for the purposes of defining, transposing and implementing EU legislation.
The resources for the Authority's operation do not come from the State budget but from a contribution calculated on the revenues of regulated operators.
The Board of ARERA consists in a President and four members appointed by Italian Presidential Decree, after approval by the Council of Ministers of a proposal from the Ministers responsible and with a favourable two-thirds majority of the members of the competent Parliamentary Committees. The President and the members remain in office for a non-renewable seven years term.
Since August 2018, the Members in office are Stefano Besseghini, President, Gianni Castelli, Andrea Guerrini, Clara Poletti and Stefano Saglia.
On the international level, ARERA participates in the work of the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and it is a founding member of the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER). It is the main promoter of the Association of Mediterranean Energy Regulators (MEDREG), of which it holds the permanent vice-presidency, and plays a prominent role in the Energy Community Regulatory Board (ECRB).
It also supports the International Confederation of Energy Regulators (ICER) and in April 2014 promoted the launch of the European Water Regulators (WAREG), a network for cooperation between water sector regulators for which it has held the presidency since 2015.
In 2022, ARERA promoted the creation of the Balkan Energy School - BES, a no-profit association under the Italian law based in Milan, chaired by ARERA, whose aim is to promote debate and exchange of knowledge in the energy sector, with particular reference to the development, regulation and integration of the market, also taking into account the new sustainability parameters.
