Confesercenti, between June and August in bills hit by 870 million

An “energy sting” of around 870 million euros on trade, administration and hospitality businesses. This is estimated by Confesercenti, in collaboration with the Innova Group, on the basis of the increase in spending on supplies between June and August 2026, compared to the same period in 2025: approximately 700 million in higher costs for electricity and another 170 million for gas, with increases in electricity bills exceeding 40% and peaks close to 50% for restaurants and hotels. But there are also companies that have recorded increases close to 90%.

Confesercenti, higher cost due to increased consumption and growth in energy prices

Both the increase in consumption, linked to exceptionally high temperatures and the greater use of air conditioning and refrigeration systems, and the growth in the price of wholesale electricity increased the energy bill: between June and August the PUN increased by over 30% compared to the same period in 2025.
Furthermore, the price peaks in the evening hours, precisely those in which hotels, restaurants, bars and public establishments concentrate a significant part of their activity and consumption, have had a particular impact on the administration and hospitality activities.

Heavy impact on tourism-related activities

The impact on budgets is significant, especially for tourism-related activities. For an average hotel with 45 rooms, the electricity bill for the three summer months goes from around 8,250 to 12,250 euros: 4 thousand euros more, equal to +48.5%. For a restaurant the expense rises from 2,100 to 3,100 euros, with an increase of one thousand euros (+47.6%); for a bar from 1,250 to 1,800 euros, 550 euros more (+44%). Significant increases also for trade: +41.3% for a food business and +40.9% for a non-food shop. And after the electricity emergency of the summer, attention is already shifting to the next few weeks.

Gas growth is worrying

What is especially worrying is gas, the price of which in the three summer months grew by over 30% compared to the same period in 2025. Even considering the tariff effect alone, with consumption essentially unchanged, the increased outlay for businesses is estimated at around 170 million euros. In view of the cold season, the level of inventories and tensions on the energy markets fuel the fear of further increases.
“In this scenario, an intervention on the ASOS components of the bill can no longer be postponed”, comments the president of Confesercenti Nico Gronchi. “For many commercial and tourism activities – he continues – energy is not a compressible expense, but an essential condition for working and guaranteeing continuity and quality of service. The alarm on bills adds to the one we have already raised in recent days on the high cost of fuel, while concern about gas is growing: energy pressure is spreading on three fronts simultaneously. The increase in these costs is compressing already reduced margins and inevitably risks being transferred to final prices. We are entering a new era of energy, in which its cost will have an increasingly greater impact on the competitiveness of businesses and on the purchasing power of families. Taxation will also have to take this into account: we cannot continue to place a tax burden on energy that risks amplifying the increases and transferring them to the entire economy. Otherwise, after having inflated bills and fuel, the cost of energy will also end up fueling inflation”.