The regulatory framework governing the CCI (Power Plant Controller for Italian standard CEI 0-16 ) continues to evolve. ARERA Resolution 564/2025, published on December 23, 2025, introduced a series of significant updates impacting deadlines, incentives, and plant classification criteria.
The stated goal is twofold: on the one hand, to make the compliance timelines more realistic, on the other, to encourage the acceleration of interventions in view of spring 2027. In this article, we take stock of the main changes, contextualizing them with respect to previous resolutions.
Regulatory framework: requirements introduced by Resolution 385/2025
ARERA Resolution 385/2025/R/eel, published on 5 August 2025, marked a fundamental step in the regulatory framework governing the Centralized Plant Controller (CCI). Previously, the obligation to install a CCI was mainly associated with large-scale plants; with Resolution 385/2025, ARERA extended this requirement to all photovoltaic and wind power plants connected at medium voltage (MV) with a nominal power equal to or greater than 100 kW, whether new or existing.
Il provvedimento ha introdotto l’obbligo di:
- Install a CCI (Power Plant Controller) compliant with the CEI 0-16 technical standard
- Enable the PF2 functionality, i.e., the ability to limit or modulate the plant’s active power upon request from the Distribution System Operator (DSO).
With this resolution, even medium-sized plants are now required to meet stricter operational standards, ensuring effective control of energy production and enhancing the stability, safety, and flexibility of the national electricity system.
For those interested in a practical, hands-on perspective, Higeco More hosted a webinar specifically on Resolution 385/2025 and CCI compliance, available here:
📺 https://youtu.be/5QN1jQ31W7s?si=JCmdHq0jJdkno5N5
During 2025, some operational challenges emerged, particularly related to the time required to implement communication infrastructures and the verification processes by DSOs. ARERA Resolution 564/2025 was introduced specifically to address these difficulties.
Extension of deadlines: more time for compliance
The first change introduced by ARERA Resolution 564/2025/R/EEL concerns the extension of compliance deadlines. ARERA granted a time extension, differentiated according to the plant’s power class:
These extensions (up to 10–12 months compared to the original deadlines) aim to make the compliance process more manageable for producers and operators.
However, it is important not to interpret these extensions as an invitation to delay: the new deadlines are still relatively close, and recent experience shows that CCI compliance requires time, coordination, and careful planning. Acting in advance remains a key factor to avoid operational issues and congestion close to the deadlines.
CCI Bonus: Rescheduling of time windows
In addition to the extensions of the obligation, ARERA Resolution 564/2025 also intervenes on the bonus mechanism.
The main changes concern:
- the extension of the first incentive bracket, which allows for longer access to the maximum bonuses;
- the reduction of the time intervals of the subsequent tranches, closer to the expiry of the obligation.
The message is clear: Those who adapt first reap the greatest benefits.
Upgrading your system before the deadlines allows you to access the highest bonuses and face the upgrades with greater peace of mind.
A particularly relevant aspect concerns the nature of the envisaged amounts. In this resolution, ARERA also defines the bonuses currently in force as “minimum recognized.” The Authority defers to a subsequent resolution, which will be subject to public consultation, for a possible upward revision of the incentives. This means that the amounts known today represent a minimum base and not necessarily the final incentive level.
New definition of “existing power plant”
A further clarification introduced by the Resolution concerns the definition of an existing power plant. The reference criterion is no longer the connection date, but exclusively the date of the connection request. This change reduces uncertainty for producers, preventing the plant’s classification from being dependent on the DSO’s operating times.
The role of DSOs
ARERA Resolution 564/2025 also intervenes on the role of System Distributors (DSO), granting:
- an additional year for the implementation of the communication infrastructure with the CCIs;
- two months to complete the CCI checks, which start:
- from the sending of the paperwork by the manufacturer, or
- from the creation of the communication infrastructure, if not yet available at the time of sending.
This extension is probably one of the main reasons behind the overall extensions.
Conclusions
ARERA Resolution 564/2025 introduces a more flexible framework, consistent with the actual timeframes for compliance, without, however, reducing the ambition of the objectives.
The extensions offer more time, but the rescheduling of bonuses and the Authority’s message remain clear: planning ahead for compliance with the CCI is a strategic choice, both operationally and economically.
Do you have a power plant subject to the CCI obligation?
Higeco More supports manufacturers and operators in assessing regulatory requirements and planning compliance.
👉 Contact us for a dedicated analysis: cci@higecomore.com
Are you an installer, a system integrator, or do you work in an engineering company?
With the Higeco More Academy, we offer a free technical training program for professionals who want to learn more about the installation and integration of our solutions and become certified partners.
👉 Discover the Higeco More Academy and contact us to get started: academy@higecomore.com
Do you have any other questions about the CCI?
Learn more about this topic by consulting the FAQ section dedicated to the CCI, designed to answer the most common questions about obligations, timelines, and operational aspects.