Technical-regulatory context

The Conto Termico 3.0 is governed by the MASE Decree Aug. 7, 2025 (published in G.U. No. 224, Sept. 26, 2025) and will come into effect on Dec. 25, 2025. Within 60 days from that date, the GSE will issue the new Application Rules and adapt the “PortalTermico” portal to manage applications. This new version replaces the previous one (D.M. 16/02/2016, Conto Termico 2.0) and enhances its measures: in fact, in addition to efficient air conditioning systems and thermal renewables already incentivized in the past, now also building type interventions on the envelope of existing buildings are financed. In other words, the Conto Termico is increasingly configured as an alternative to tax deductions for energy retrofits, designed also for PAs that cannot directly take advantage of tax bonuses.

Important from a regulatory point of view is the broadening of beneficiaries and types of interventions. Public Administrations (including Local Authorities and Schools, as well as ESCos operating on their behalf), but also private entities (businesses, condominiums, citizens) can access the incentives for certain interventions. The Conto Termico 3.0 also equates Third Sector Entities with PAs for the purposes of access, and introduces the possibility of using incentives through Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) or collective self-consumption configurations, expanding the implementation tools. On the regulatory side, technical eligibility requirements have been updated (bringing them in line with the latest EU regulations, e.g., Ecodesign) and expenditure ceilings have been revised to account for rising market costs. All this makes Conto Termico 3.0 a more flexible and up-to-date scheme, in line with national and European decarbonization goals.

Practical benefits for public administrations.

For Public Administrations, the Conto Termico 3.0 represents a strategic tool for several reasons:

• Access to substantial financing: it allows a large portion of the costs (up to 65 percent normally, 100 percent in some cases for small municipalities, as we shall see) of energy upgrades to be covered, easing the burden on municipalities’ budgets. This is particularly useful for municipalities with limited resources, which can thus carry out projects that would otherwise be out of reach.
• Rapid disbursement and certainty of contribution: unlike tax bonuses, the incentive is disbursed directly by the GSE in a relatively short time (often in one lump sum for PAs), after completion of the work and verification of documentation. This means immediate liquidity and no risk of regulatory changes during construction that could reduce the benefit.
• Broad spectrum of interventions that can be financed: PA can obtain grants for interventions on public buildings at 360 degrees-from replacing obsolete boilers with modern heat pumps or biomass boilers, tothermal insulation of walls and roofs, from replacing windows and doors to installing solar thermal systems, and even converting buildings to NZEB (near-zero energy buildings) and upgrading lighting and control systems. This versatility makes it possible to plan integrated interventions on the building maximizing both energy savings and achievable contribution.
• Lasting energy and economic savings: investing in efficiency with the support of the Thermal Account means reducing the consumption of municipal buildings (schools, offices, sports facilities, public lighting, etc.) and thus cutting the entity’s annual energy bills. This frees up budget resources that can be allocated to other community services. In addition, more efficient buildings have lower maintenance costs in the long run and provide more comfortable environments.
• Contribution to environmental and regulatory goals: thanks to these incentives, PAs can more easily meet their legal energy obligations (e.g., Legislative Decree 199/2021 requires PAs to carry out energy improvements on buildings) and contribute to achieving emission reduction targets. Administrations that are virtuous in this regard also improve their public image by demonstrating a focus on sustainability.