1962: creation of Enel- The Italian National Agency for
Electric Energy – Enel - was established on December 6th. Enel performs
electricity production, import and export, transportation, processing,
distribution and sale.
1963: The National Dispatching Centre - Enel began gradually absorbing
existing electricity companies. At the end of 1995 there were 1,270 absorbed
companies. The National Dispatching Centre of Rome, one of the first
established units, manages production facilities, transmission network and
interconnection with other countries: in fact, it is the "brain" of the
entire Italian electricity system.
1965: Loan bonds - To finance the expansion of its plant Enel issued the
first two bonds,for 75 billion and 100 billion lire in Italy and 37 billion
lire in other countries of the European Community.
1966: Thermal power takes the lead - For the first time, hydropower
production covers less than 50% of the aggregate. The gradual depletion of
hydroelectric resources and the continuous and sustained increase in
electricity demand , cause an increase of energy production from power
1972: The growth - Between 1968 and 1972, according to a survey by
Mediobanca, Enel has the second highest turnover, after Fiat, among Italian
1976: Oil crisis and energy savings - To cope with the oil crisis
triggered by the Arab-Israeli Yom Kippur conflict, from 1973 Enel plans to
build both new nuclear power plants, so as to reduce dependence on oil, and
hydroelectric pumping plants.
In 1976 the Italian Parliament launches the first legislative action in the
field of energy-saving policy. Enel prepares a leaflet entitled “For a better
and more economical use of energy”, printed in 21 million copies and sent to