| I.A.E.A. - Country Nuclear Power Profile - Italy Report
( 2002 Edition - It updates the country information, in general, to the end of 2001)
(This is the fourth edition of the Country Nuclear Power Profiles)
Narrative overview of nuclear power development in Italy 1 - General information
2 - Electricity sector
3 - Nuclear power situation
4 - Nuclear power industry
5 - Regulatory framework
2. Electricity sector
2.1. Structure of the Electricity Sector
In 1962, the electric sector was nationalized by Law 1643 of 6 December 1962. ENEL (Ente Nazionale per I'Energia Elettrica, Italian Electricity Generating Board) was established to be wholly responsible for electricity production and transmission, and partially responsible for distribution of electric energy.
Starting from the early ‘90s, many changes have been developed in the Italian electricity sector and the consequences begin to appear.
By Decree No. 333 of 11 July 1992, the Government decided to privatize some state-owned industrial and commercial companies. The new companies issued shares for a total value equal to the net fixed assets given in the last balance sheet. The shares have been allocated to the Treasury and the revenue obtained by their sale will be used to reduce the national debt and to balance the Government’s books. Thus, in August 1992, ENEL became a joint-stock company (ENEL S.p.A.) with its shares in the hands of the Treasury. In November 1995 the law setting up the Independent regulatory Authority has been approved, and the Authority has been operational since the beginning of 1997. In December 1995 The Ministry of Industry issued the new concession to Enel SpA.
In March 1999, a legislative Decree (“Bersani” Decree) was issued, for the restructuring and liberalization of the Italian electricity sector: the purpose of the Decree is both to reach a sufficiently large liberalization and to guarantee such general economic interest as, for instance, a universal service, tariff equalization, the development of renewable sources.
According to the mentioned decree, Enel SpA begun a process of complete reorganization. Enel is now an holding, whose shares are for 68% property of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (former Ministry of Treasury). The balance of 32% is already on the stock market. As for generation, Enel has subdivided its generation capacity in a few companies, with the perspective of reducing its generation share in the Italian market accordingly to the European directive. Companies Elettogen (5720 MW) and Eurogen (7000 MW) have already been sold to private operators and for Interpower (2600 MW) the process is ongoing. Two other companies in the holding are dedicated to distribution (one company for the captive market and one for the free market), and one owns the transmission grid. Many others stock companies exist in Enel group for other business such as engineering, lighting, water management, and other for different industrial services.
2.2. Decision Making Process
New generation capacity will be built according to the licensing procedure: producers wanting to operate on the free market will apply for the authorization. In order to encourage the use of renewable sources, operators producing more than 100 GW·h/year (coming from non renewable sources) will be obliged as of 2001 to insert a quota of energy into the grid produced with renewable sources equal to 2% of the amount exceeding 100 GW·h.
From January 2003, no producer or operator will be allowed to generate or import more than 50% of the total electric power generated and imported in Italy.
The management of the grid is assured by the Independent System Operator (ISO): a joint stock company, owned by the Ministry of Treasure and totally independent from the electricity industry.
ISO has the task of dispatching energy and operating the national network, that mainly consists of the HV grid of Enel and HV lines of other operators.
2.3. Main Indicators
Italy’s total gross output capacity of electricity generating plants in 2000 amounted to 76.400 MW: thermal plants 56,700 MW, hydroelectric 20,600 MW, geothermal 631 MW and 400 MW renewable sources. Total gross electricity production in 2001 was 279.630 GW·h., including wind and photovoltaic for about 0.8 TW·h. High voltage transmission lines, connecting power plants with the distribution system, are mainly based on 380 kV lines and 220 kV lines.
In 2000, the electricity demand on the national grid was 305.4 TW·h with a per capita demand of 5,154 kWh. In 2000, electricity’s share in gross domestic energy demand was 35.4%.
2.4. Impact of Open Electricity Market in the Nuclear Sector
Nuclear is not an option at the moment in Italy: no impact of Open electricity market in the nuclear sector
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