Utilities in Italy: voltura, subentro, TARI

Utilities in Italy: how voltura differs from subentro, connecting gas, electricity, water and internet, the bolletta and TARI - community experience.

After you have moved into your housing, the question of utilities (utenze) usually comes up: electricity, gas, water and internet. In Italy this is set up through contracts with suppliers, and it is important to choose the right type of operation - to re-register the active contract or to connect anew. This is not legal advice but an overview based on community experience; the rates, suppliers and rules depend heavily on the region and the comune, so verify the specifics on official sources and in your own bills.

Utilities are usually tied to residenza and the rental contract - if you have not yet sorted out the housing, see the article on the rental contract. And it is convenient to keep the meter codes and the payment details at hand in the tool:

Document-pack assemblerPick a motive and questura: the exact allegati list with apostille/translation flags and the blanks.

In brief: community data

Bills depend heavily on consumption (per the community): there is no single figure; from individual accounts - internet about 30 EUR a month, electricity on the order of 0.3 EUR per kWh, water about 2 EUR per cubic meter. These are observations, not a tariff - check your own bolletta.
Heating makes a big difference: per the community gas (individual) heating is noticeably more expensive to pay for than central heating - people notice the gap already in the first winter bills.
Budget time for subentro: in one account people waited about a month for the reconnection of fully disconnected gas; if the meter is deactivated, plan a buffer.
A prepaid card often does not work for a contract: per the community, for cards like Revolut or Moony providers often refuse to arrange an internet and gas contract - a full-fledged account helps, or the "without an account link" option (internet then costs a bit more).
A paper bolletta costs extra: per accounts, having the cartacea sent to your home costs on the order of a few EUR on top of the rate; by default the bill comes electronically.

The figures are time-dependent and per the community; verify the current ones with your supplier. This is not legal advice.

How much do utilities cost in Italy?

There is no single amount: the bill depends on consumption, the supplier's rate and the type of heating, so even neighbors pay differently. Rough reference points from individual community accounts - internet about 30 EUR a month, electricity on the order of 0.3 EUR per kWh, water about 2 EUR per cubic meter, and gas heating noticeably more expensive than central heating. These are scattered observations, not a current tariff - always check the exact amounts in your own bolletta and with the supplier.

Voltura or subentro: which type of operation to choose

This is the first and most important decision. According to the community the difference is this:

voltura - the re-registration of an already active contract to a new resident. The meter is active, the electricity and gas were not switched off, only the person in whose name the contract and bills are registered changes.
subentro - a reconnection, when the previous supply was closed and the meter deactivated (for example the apartment stood empty for a long time). Here the connection is started anew.

A mistake with the operation type is a frequent cause of problems: you can get double bills or a pause while the request is re-filed. So before submitting it is worth finding out the state of the meter - whether it works and whether the contract was closed. If you are moving in after another tenant, it is important that they correctly closed or transferred their contract, otherwise the bills may keep coming to them.

Out of ignorance I requested subentro, even though the electricity in the apartment was not switched off. In the end the request was turned down and they suggested arranging voltura - we lost almost two weeks. Ask straight away: is the meter active or not.

Pavel, communitypersonal opinion

What POD and PDR are and where to find them

To arrange a contract for electricity or gas you need the codes of the connection points:

POD - the unique code of the electricity connection point;
PDR - the analogous code for gas.

According to the community both codes are printed on the previous resident's bolletta (bill), and sometimes they can be seen right on the meter. Without the correct POD/PDR you cannot file a voltura or subentro request, and an error in the digits leads to delays. So when moving in it is useful to ask the owner or the previous resident for the last bill - it will have the codes, the name of the supplier and the current rates.

The most tedious part is finding the POD and PDR. I did not have them either clearly visible on the meter or in hand. The last bill from the apartment's owner helped: I copied both codes from it, and the request was accepted on the first try.

Natalia, communitypersonal opinion

How to connect electricity, gas, water and internet

According to the community the order of actions is roughly this:

gather the data: POD (electricity) and PDR (gas), the meter readings at the moment of moving in, the codice fiscale, the payment details (IBAN or the debit method), sometimes a copy of the rental contract;
choose a supplier and a rate - the electricity and gas market in Italy is open, there are many suppliers;
arrange voltura or subentro according to the state of the meter (see above);
for water the order is similar, but the operator is usually a single one for the territory (the local water utility), and the contract is arranged through it;
internet is connected by a separate contract with a telecom provider; here you look at the technology (fiber, ADSL, mobile) and the time to bring in the line.

According to the community when arranging it is useful to record the meter readings right away - this protects you from disputes about the previous resident's consumption. Connecting water and internet often takes more time than re-registering electricity and gas, so it is better to start them in advance.

We re-registered electricity and gas quickly, but I waited almost a month for the internet - the line was brought in separately. If you work from home, order the internet first, do not put it off.

Dmitry, communitypersonal opinion

An important nuance about the payment method when concluding a contract. According to the community electricity, gas and especially internet providers often require a full-fledged bank account: for prepaid cards (for example Revolut, Moony) and accounts without an Italian IBAN they often refuse to arrange a contract and direct debit - with the wording that "not a prepaid card but a normal bank card" is needed. At the same time, according to the community, there are electricity and gas suppliers willing to conclude a contract even without an account at all - so if you do not yet have a full-fledged account, it makes sense to call around several suppliers and ask straight out. More about the account itself is in the article on banks and money.

With a prepaid card I hit a wall: you can pay with it, but they refused to arrange the internet contract and the direct debit for gas on it - they said a full-fledged bank card was needed. I had to open a normal account first. But I found an electricity supplier who concluded a contract even without an Italian account.

Camilla, communitypersonal opinion

How to pay the bolletta (including without an Italian card)

The bills (bollette) come regularly, and it is important not to miss a payment. According to the community the main methods are:

direct debit (domiciliazione) from an Italian bank account - convenient, but you need an open account;
a bank transfer using the supplier's details (IBAN and BIC/SWIFT) - suitable for those who do not yet have an Italian account;
payment at a branch or through payment services.

The key point for the transfer: in the payment description (causale) you usually need to state the customer number (N. Cliente) and the invoice number (N. Fattura) - both are printed on the bill itself (the customer number is usually in the top right corner, the invoice number is under the billing period). According to the community, without the customer number the payment may simply not be credited, and the bill will stay outstanding. More about opening an account and transfers is in the article on banks and money.

I paid for electricity by transfer until I opened an Italian account. Once I forgot to enter the customer number - the money left, but the bill stayed unpaid, and we sorted it out for a long time afterwards. Now I always copy both the customer number and the invoice number into the description.

Elena, communitypersonal opinion

Another point about the bill format. According to the community the bolletta often comes electronically by default, and a paper one (cartacea) has to be requested separately from the supplier - and for it, as a rule, they charge a small surcharge on top of the rate (according to accounts - on the order of a few EUR per bill). If it is important to you to receive a paper bill, it is worth saying so when arranging it and budgeting for this surcharge.

I did not immediately understand why the bills were not arriving in the mailbox - it turned out that by default they were going only electronically. To get a paper bolletta sent, I had to ask separately, and for that they added a couple of EUR to the rate. A trifle, but it is better to settle it at the start.

Gennady, communitypersonal opinion

TARI: the waste tax and how it is calculated

The waste tax stands apart - TARI (Tassa Rifiuti). According to the community it is precisely a municipal tax, not a fee for a service: it is paid by the owner or holder of the housing from which waste is generated. A few practical points:

it usually comes as two bills a year - an advance (often in spring) and the balance (often in winter);
the amount depends on the floor area of the housing, the number of residents and the rates of the specific comune, so it differs noticeably across cities;
TARI is tied to residenza and the household: when you move, the tax at the old address is closed and at the new one it is opened - more details in the article on changing your registration (cambio residenza).

The amounts "according to the community" are time-dependent and depend on the comune, so verify the specific figures locally rather than taking them as fact.

Separate waste collection: in brief

Sorting waste in Italy is mandatory, and the rules (fractions, bag colors, porta a porta or street bins) differ by comune - check with the neighbors and the local service right when moving in. The fractions, the calendar and the fines in detail are in the article on separate waste collection.

Interactive "First steps in Italy" checklist - a step-by-step tracker after arrival: KIT, residenza, tessera sanitaria.
Rental contract (contratto di locazione) - the housing and the contract on which the utility contracts rely.
Codice fiscale and residenza after arrival - the foundation without which you cannot arrange the contracts or pay TARI.
Banks and money - the account, IBAN and transfers for paying the bills.
Changing your registration (cambio residenza) - how moving affects TARI and the utility contracts.
Separate waste collection - the fractions, the collection calendar and the fines.
Heating in Italy - when it is switched on by climate zone, the boiler and the gas bonus sociale.

Official sources

Agenzia delle Entrate - TARI and housing taxes
Ministero dell'Interno - residenza and municipal rules
Ministero della Salute - waste management and sanitary rules

Frequently asked questions

How does voltura differ from subentro?

According to the community, voltura is the re-registration of an active contract to a new resident without disconnecting the meter (the electricity/gas were not switched off), whereas subentro is a reconnection, when the supply was previously closed and the meter is deactivated. Choosing the wrong operation type leads to double bills or a pause in supply, so clarify the state of the meter in advance - this is not legal advice.

What are POD and PDR and where do you get them?

According to the community, POD is the unique code of the electricity connection point, and PDR is the analogous code for gas; both are printed on the previous resident's bolletta (bill) or on the meter itself. Without the correct POD/PDR you cannot file a voltura or subentro request. Verify the data on the bill and with the supplier - this is not legal advice.

How do you pay the bolletta without an Italian card?

According to the community, the bolletta can be paid by bank transfer using the supplier's details (IBAN and BIC), making sure to state the customer number and the invoice number in the payment description - without them the payment may not be credited. You can also set up a direct debit (domiciliazione) from an Italian account. Verify the details on your bolletta - this is not legal advice.

What is TARI and who pays it?

According to the community, TARI is a municipal waste tax paid by the owner or holder of housing capable of producing waste; it usually comes as two bills a year (an advance and the balance), and the amount depends on the floor area, the number of residents and the comune's rates. It is precisely a tax, not a fee for a service. Verify the amounts and procedure in your comune - this is not legal advice.

Is sorting waste mandatory and what happens if you do not?

According to the community, separate collection (raccolta differenziata) is mandatory, the rules and containers differ by comune and region, and administrative fines are possible for violations; the actual enforcement practice differs from region to region. Find out the exact rules and collection schedules from the local service - this is not legal advice.

Will a prepaid card (Revolut, Moony and the like) work for a contract for electricity, gas and internet?

According to the community, to conclude a utility and internet contract a full-fledged bank account is often required: for prepaid cards (for example Revolut, Moony) and accounts without an Italian IBAN providers often refuse to arrange a contract and direct debit. At the same time, according to the community, there are electricity and gas suppliers willing to conclude a contract even without an account - this is worth clarifying with the specific supplier. This is not legal advice.

Can you receive a paper bolletta and how much does it cost?

According to the community, a paper bolletta (cartacea) usually has to be requested separately from the supplier, and a small surcharge is often charged for sending it to your home (according to accounts - on the order of a few EUR on top of the rate). By default the bill often comes electronically. Verify the exact conditions and amounts with your supplier - this is not legal advice.

Related materials - After arrival

Next stepPrintable modulesFill a short form and print a ready Italian document: autocertificazione, ospitalita, conto di base.