Energy alarm “Unsustainable bills for hotels and shops”

18 March 2026

 

Energy prices for gas and electricity are soaring, threatening the sustainability of service-sector and craft businesses. Within a few hours, both Confcommercio Verona and CNA Veneto Ovest (Verona and Vicenza) raised the alarm.

“Figures analyzed by Confcommercio speak clearly: energy bills for service-sector businesses are returning to almost unsustainable levels,” warns the general director of the Verona branch, Nicola Dal Dosso. Hotels risk a monthly increase of nearly €2,000 for electricity and gas; supermarkets are burdened with costs that will affect the entire supply chain. “Then there are bars, restaurants, and shops—smaller businesses that are even more exposed, where just a few hundred euros more can seriously compromise financial balance,” he continues. Electricity costs have long been a major issue for Italy, which is more exposed than its European competitors.

Recommendation: Promote demand aggregation mechanisms so that even smaller businesses can access long-term contracts.

Price increases: In the stone sector, energy can account for 30–35% of total costs, while for laundries it can reach up to 40%.

The conflict in the Middle East risks worsening the situation. In addition to highlighting the issues, the association is trying to offer solutions and support to member companies. “We have activated an Energy Desk to constantly monitor price trends and secure agreements under the best market conditions,” says Dal Dosso. “But it is essential that rapid responses also come at the institutional level, starting with a reduction of system charges.”

Mitigating the impact of rising costs is crucial for the survival of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. “We need to implement the tools provided by the ‘energy bills decree,’ promote demand aggregation mechanisms to allow even smaller firms to access long-term renewable energy contracts, and simplify procedures for investments in energy efficiency,” he adds.

Since the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East, prices of other commodities have also risen. Metals such as copper, iron, aluminum, fuels, and steel have increased, according to CNA monitoring. This trend is accompanied by supply tensions, rising shipping costs, and higher insurance expenses—creating a mix that is severely affecting manufacturing in a province like Verona, which has a strong industrial and artisanal base.

For example, copper has risen by nearly 40%, driven by demand from the automotive and data center sectors. Iron and aluminum profiles are up about 20%. In construction, concern is growing over increases in bitumen (+18%) and concrete (+10%), while the mechanical sector is suffering from price hikes in certain plastics (up to +30%). Wood has increased by 10–15%. Only leather has seen a slight slowdown, while textiles have generated extra costs of about €46 million for businesses in Verona in just over two weeks.

The effects are also felt in the food industry, especially in baked goods production, with increases of around 14%.

In the stone sector, energy can account for 30–35% of total costs, while for laundries it can reach up to 40%. According to Diego Stimolo, president of CNA Veneto Ovest, it is necessary to immediately counter these increases with measures that help businesses cope with energy prices and ensure stability across the production chain.

Source: https://edicola.larena.it/newsstand/index.php?issue=20260318