Talete dry due to high arrears, Genoa: “We could collapse at any moment”
Viterbo – The sole administrator of the water company recalls the mayors but in the assembly Ato is still a head-on clash in particular with the capital on tariffs and investments
by Giuseppe Ferlicca
Viterbese – “Talete has no liquidity because there are users who have not paid what they owed. This is the real problem. We are trying to cope, but we could collapse at any moment.” Once again the sole director of the water company Salvatore Genova warns the mayors. He this time in the assembly Ato.
In the face of a dramatic story of failure, a scenario already seen was repeated. The intervention of the mayor of Viterbo Chiara Frontini made the president Ato lose his nerves Alessandro Romoli. You surprise present a study, unwelcome in form and substance and announcing it, you speak of past increased tariffs, which we do not know how they were used.
Genoa, Nicolai and Frontini
Romoli sees us black and is frowning. Him unacceptable words, he says and then returned to the sender. Another head-on collision. While the words of Genoa remain. Unheard or almost.
“We are trying to cope with the situation – observes Genoa – but it could collapse at any moment. Talete has liquidity problems because he doesn’t collect what he should”.
High arrears, 24 million euros weigh heavily and Genoa optimistically believes that 8 will be able to be recovered.
“Companies, offices – continues the sole director – have been very good at buffering, moving forward in the management of expenses and suppliers, paying in installments and moving forward most of the payments”. It cannot go on forever. And if the government takes care of the energy price increases, as some mayors claim, all the other problems remain and are not insignificant.
“Energy costs have fallen sharply compared to the previous forecast. Today we are talking about 8 and a half million more”. The difficulties are economic and financial.
“The problem of the tariff review arises within this framework – continues Genoa – which must be completed by 30 November”. As Arera requests, in the meantime to cover energy price increases and therefore for investment.
In the background remains how to secure the water company. Starting from 40% of shares to be sold to private individuals. While for Frontini it is the last hypothesis, all other roads must be taken first. “Let’s recapitalize with the private partner – warns Frontini – but only once we have said no to everything else and we don’t take decisions until we see a recovery plan, just as the increase in tariffs is only good if aimed at precise objectives and not as unfortunately done so far. Not in a cauldron that we don’t know what it’s for, to cover what “.
Romulus is not there. “The tariff must be approved on November 30, in 15 days and not in 15 years. Today I heard endless nonsense. We’re all decent people here and this is the last time I’ll hear such proposals. The considerations on the increase in tariffs I do not allow them “. Get a round of applause.
“We are working to avoid an increase in the tariff – explains Romoli – the postponement of the entry of the municipalities is precisely to mitigate the increases. If they all arrive together, investments are needed that all go into the bill”. The mayor of Canepina Moneta goes so far as to say that the attitude of the capital is leading to bankruptcy Thales: “With this continuous procrastination”.
Joseph Ferlica
– “Thirty municipalities within Thales by 2023”
November 16, 2022