Phone, internet and utilities in Italy: getting connected

Getting connected is one of the first jobs after you arrive in Italy, and nearly every step starts with the same document: the codice fiscale, Italy's tax code. Phone lines, internet contracts and energy accounts all ask for it. This guide sets out what the Italian regulators require, how long switching takes, and what to bring.

Step one: the codice fiscale

The codice fiscale is a personal tax identification code issued by the Agenzia delle Entrate, Italy's revenue agency. Foreigners can request it at an Agenzia office, and the Agenzia's service page explains how. It is printed on the tessera sanitaria (health card) for people enrolled in the national health service.

You will be asked for it when you sign a phone contract, port a number, open home internet, or put an electricity or gas account in your name. Get it first and keep a copy on your phone.

Mobile phones and SIM cards

Italian mobile operators must identify every customer. Rules from AGCOM, the communications regulator, show what that means in practice. For a SIM change or a number transfer (portabilità, or MNP), AGCOM's Resolution 86/21/CIR requires the operator to take a clear copy of the requester's identity document and of a document showing the codice fiscale, plus the old SIM, and for a lost or stolen SIM, the police report. The rule applies to eSIMs too: AGCOM says identification must happen before the eSIM profile is downloaded or activated.

For an American, this means:

• Bring your passport as your identity document.
• Bring your codice fiscale (the paper certificate or the health card).
• Expect a confirmation text. When a SIM is replaced, AGCOM requires the operator to validate the request, normally by SMS to the existing number.

In 2023 AGCOM approved the use of SPID and CIE, Italy's digital identity systems, as an alternative way to identify customers for SIM activation and management. Once you have the Italian electronic identity card or a SPID login, online activation becomes easier.

### Keeping your US number

Many Americans keep their US number on a low-cost plan or port it to a VoIP service so they can receive bank texts and two-factor codes. Before you cancel a US plan, check which of your US accounts send codes by SMS and whether they accept a non-US number.

Home internet

Fixed broadband contracts follow the same identification logic: ID, codice fiscale and, for direct debit, an IBAN from a bank account. A few points to know before signing:

• Check coverage at the exact address. Fiber availability varies building by building.
• Read the minimum term and exit costs. Contracts often bundle a router with installments.
• Withdrawal rights. Under EU and Italian consumer law, contracts signed online or away from a shop carry a 14-day right of withdrawal, which ARERA also cites for energy contracts.

AGCOM handles complaints about telecom operators, and its site explains the procedures for disputes and number portability.

Electricity and gas

Energy in Italy runs on the free market for most households. The regulator is ARERA (Autorità di Regolazione per Energia Reti e Ambiente), which also regulates water and waste services. Its consumer atlas explains the rules in plain Italian.

### Two codes you need: POD and PDR

Every electricity supply point has a POD code, and every gas supply point has a PDR code. ARERA's bill glossary says the PDR is a 14-digit code identifying the physical point where gas is delivered, and that it does not change when you change supplier. The POD works the same way for electricity. Find both on the previous tenant's bill or ask the landlord.

### Taking over an existing supply: voltura and subentro

When you move into an apartment, there are two cases:

• Voltura: the supply is active and you change the name on the contract. ARERA says a voltura without changing supplier normally takes five working days: the supplier confirms within three working days of a complete request, and registration of the new contract takes two more.
• Subentro: the supply was deactivated and must be reactivated in your name.

ARERA's consumer atlas also covers what a voltura or subentro costs and how arrears of a previous holder are treated, so read those pages before you sign if the apartment was empty or the previous tenant left owing money.

### Choosing or changing supplier

ARERA says that to change supplier you simply sign a contract with the new one, and the new supplier handles the switch and the termination of the old contract. Your supply is not interrupted and the meter is not replaced.

On timing, ARERA explains that switches normally take one to two months and take effect on the first day of a month. If the new supplier starts the switch by the 10th of a month, the change takes effect on the 1st of the following month; otherwise it slips a month. Contracts signed away from the supplier's premises or at a distance carry a 14-day right of withdrawal, and 30 days for unsolicited home visits.

### What to bring

• Passport and codice fiscale
• Lease or proof of title for the address
• POD and PDR codes
• Meter readings on the day you take over
• Bank IBAN if you choose direct debit

Water and waste

Water is supplied by local operators under ARERA regulation, and in many buildings the water bill is shared through the condominium fees rather than billed to each apartment. Waste collection is paid through the municipal waste tax (TARI), which you register for with your comune after moving in. Ask your landlord which services are included in the rent or condominium charges.

Plugs and appliances

Italian outlets use European round-pin plugs, and many homes also have Italian three-pin sockets. Voltage differs from the United States, so check the label on each device: phone and laptop chargers are often marked for a wide input range and need only a plug adapter, while hair dryers and kitchen appliances usually need a converter or a local replacement.

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A simple order of steps

1. Get the codice fiscale.
2. Buy a prepaid SIM with your passport and codice fiscale.
3. Collect POD and PDR codes and readings on move-in day.
4. Request voltura or subentro for electricity and gas.
5. Check fiber coverage and sign for home internet.
6. Register for TARI with your comune.

Keep copies of every contract, the codice fiscale certificate and the first bill of each service in one folder. Landlords, banks and offices often ask for proof of address, and a utility bill in your name is one of the most common ways to show it.

Common questions

Can I get an Italian SIM with a US passport? Yes. Operators must identify you; bring your passport and your codice fiscale, which AGCOM rules list for SIM changes and number portability.

How long does it take to change electricity or gas supplier? ARERA says one to two months. Switches take effect on the first of a month if the new supplier starts the process by the 10th of the previous month.

What are POD and PDR codes? Fixed codes identifying your electricity (POD) and gas (PDR) supply points. ARERA says they do not change when you change supplier, and you need them to open an account.

How long does a voltura take? Normally five working days without changing supplier, according to ARERA.