Military and Defense Department civilians assigned to Naval Support Activities Naples and Gaeta who have Italian ENEL electricity will soon be able to receive monthly, tax-free bills in English through their local Navy Exchanges.
Naples NEX operations manager Arnie Giannotta said that as of Wednesday, 27 people had signed up for the service.
“What we really need is 100 customers to get this going,” Giannotta said. “Within 30 days of getting names, we’ll get it going.”
Once the program starts, the NEX will essentially become the participants’ electric company.
Normally, off-base residents receive bimonthly electric bills directly from ENEL, billed in euros and printed in Italian.
With the new service, residents will receive a monthly bill in English from the NEX, have the 16 percent Italian tax taken off their rates and be billed in dollars.
Those wanting to sign up for the service need to contact the Agnano NEX at 625-3058.
Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, offers a tax-free, bill-paying program at its Navy Exchange, base spokesman Alberto Lunetta stated in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes.
Vicenza and Livorno also offer tax exemptions on natural gas, water, electricity and home heating oil bills through their Utilities Tax Exempt Program.
The program has been operating in Vicenza since 1994 and offers exemptions for 47 area utility companies, said spokeswoman Maggie Menzies.
Aviano Air Base is working to implement a similar program, but a start date has not been set, according to 2nd Lt. Lea Chambers, base spokeswoman.
