Confartigianato Piemonte's warning on rising gas prices
Date of the event:
On 11 November 2026, Confartigianato Imprese Piemonte raised an alarm over rising gas bills, releasing estimates according to which some craft businesses in the region risk paying more than 5,000 euros a month extra for energy. The initiative concerns Piedmont's production system and in particular small craft businesses, such as bakeries, laundries and dairies.
The scale of the increases
According to the estimates released by Confartigianato, in October 2026 gas tariffs rose by 9.1%, after a 12.7% increase in September. For a household with standard consumption, the reference price reached 176.8 cents per cubic metre, with an estimated extra annual cost of around 163 euros [1]. According to ARERA data cited by another source, the real increase in the gas price between September and October would have been 22.96%, with the tariff for a typical household at 1.77 euros per cubic metre [2].
For craft businesses the impact is described as heavier. A bakery with monthly consumption of 4,000 cubic metres of gas could pay more than a thousand euros extra on its bill; for a laundry with 7,500 cubic metres the expected extra cost is around 1,200 euros; a dairy with consumption of 20,000 cubic metres risks an extra cost of 5,300 euros a month [1]. In metalworking, the gas bill could reach 20,903.50 euros in November and 21,957.71 euros in December, while for meat-processing companies the estimates stand at 5,127.69 and 6,103.92 euros respectively [1]. Another source reports, for bakeries, laundries and butcher shops, increases on average monthly consumption ranging between 1,000 and 6,000 euros [2].
Confartigianato's position
The president of Confartigianato Imprese Piemonte, Giorgio Felici, linked the price rises to a series of international crises over which businesses have no means to act. Felici said that a higher bill for a small business “is not simply one more item of expense: it means having fewer resources to buy machinery, hire staff, innovate and plan for the future” [1]. In another statement, Felici said that at risk are “investments, jobs and the very future of our businesses,” stressing that craft businesses do not have the liquidity needed to absorb rapid swings in energy costs [2].
Context
One source also attributes the price rises to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf region, which affect gas and electricity prices [2]. According to data from the Unione Nazionale Consumatori, based on ARERA figures, the reference price recorded in October 2026 is 16.8% above the peak of December 2022, calculated on the historical series reconstructed according to the new specifications for the typical customer [2]. Confartigianato is calling for urgent measures to protect the competitiveness of small businesses in Piedmont, warning that pressure on energy costs risks holding back investment, employment and the shift towards more efficient production systems [1].
Sources
- Caro energia, bollette sempre più pesanti per famiglie e imprese piemontesi — Il Torinese, 11 November 2026
- Caro energia, l'ombra della crisi in Piemonte: bollette del gas in corsa e consumi a rischio — CronacaQui Torino, 11 November 2026