Cost of electricity for offices in Italy hits new record

(ANSA) - Rome, October 20 - The cost of electricity for offices in Italy hit a new record in the fourth quarter, Confcommercio said Monday.
    The small-business association said its Service Electricity Cost Index (ICET) increased 3.9% over the third quarter and rose 2.5% on an annual basis. The higher power prices were caused in part by a 6.7% hike in wholesale energy prices in the third quarter, year on year, Confcommercio reported. The wholesale price was affected by the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the group said. Another reason was a tariff increase on utility bills, up 2.7% from the previous quarter and 11.9% higher than the same period in 2013. Tariffs currently make up 53.6% of the electrical utility bill, 30.6% of which are system costs.