Legal disputes involving AICA water utility

The water utility AICA (Azienda Idrica Comuni Agrigentini) has been involved in multiple legal disputes regarding significant debts and asset seizures in Italy.

In one instance, the Court of Palermo ordered AICA to pay Siciliacque approximately 11.5 million euros in unpaid water fees. Siciliacque had originally sought over 12.4 million euros plus interest. AICA contested the amount, arguing that the ‘Favara di Burgio’ aqueduct was incorrectly included in the infrastructure assigned to Siciliacque. While the judge did not accept this objection, the court excluded default interest accrued since September 2021 because the reporting system had not been formally agreed upon by both parties. After accounting for a payment of over 743,000 euros made during proceedings, the final amount was set at approximately 11.5 million euros, an order that is immediately enforceable.

Separately, the Agrigento Civil Court ordered the suspension of a 5.3 million euro seizure against AICA. This seizure, stemming from a 2009 ruling involving the former Voltano S.p.A., had resulted in the freezing of AICA’s bank accounts at institutions including Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena and Poste Italiane. AICA argued it was a distinct legal entity not responsible for the previous company’s liabilities. The court granted a precautionary suspension to prevent the forced execution from compromising the company’s economic stability and the regular provision of integrated water services for 33 municipalities. Although the freeze posed operational risks, no generalized interruptions in the water supply were reported.