These decrees establish for electricity and gas distributors that supply a certain number of end users, the obligation to carry out activities and measures that determine energy saving. These energy saving measures may also be directly carried out by energy distributors or indirectly by energy service companies accredited and recognized by the AEEG (Authority for Electricity and Gas), as in the case of the Energy Saving Companies (ESCO) of the ICQ Group. The unit of measurement for saving obtained is the TOE: for every TOE, one EEC is recognized.
EECs are issued by the GME (Electricity Market Operator) upon indication given by the AEEG in favor of energy services distributors (ESCO) in order to certify the reduction of consumption obtained through projects aimed at energy efficiency.