Aretusacque water bills in Siracusa spark deposit controversy

Aretusacque, the new water service provider in Siracusa, has begun issuing its first bills, sparking controversy over the inclusion of a security deposit. The company clarified that the deposit is a requirement mandated by the national regulator, ARERA, to cover potential delinquency risks. It is not a consumption tariff and is calculated based on historical usage, capped at three months of consumption. Users with social water bonuses or those using direct debit are exempt.

Local political figures and consumer groups have raised concerns. Councilman Paolo Cavallaro has requested access to documents to determine how security deposits previously paid to the former manager, SIAM, are being handled during the transition. Consumer advocates have described the charge as “inopportune and burdensome,” noting it could cost families an average of 300 euros amid ongoing service issues, such as water leaks and supply interruptions.

While Aretusacque maintains that current tariffs remain unchanged pending approval from the Territorial Water Authority (ATI), the transition period has seen friction regarding the continuity of contracts and the management of previous deposits.