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"I am trying to decide on what utilities I should use to heat my house in Tuscany.  I have 115 sq meters stone villa and because of logistic to the property I am have difficulty installing GPL.  I am trying to find out the differences in cost heating this house with GPL, Heating Oil or Electric.  At this time the easiest approach is electric but is electric the most expensive.   If so how much more." Underfloor heating or radiators? Full residence or holiday home? Insulated and double glazed? Not very easy to recommend anything without more information.

Sorry to hear Dylano is still off. We have a friend close by who had the same problem last year. Enel told him there was nothing wrong according to them. We asked an ½ûÂþÌìÌà farmer friend to speak to them and it was only then they resolved the issue.

You have given me a few fields of thought regarding this, as also Adriatica. 1) I could use the ride-on mower to run a converter, through its own charging system, so just like a generator for the lighting side of things. 2) To buy a generator with 3phase and single phase to run the heat pump and lighting etc of the house. I think I can get one for about E 500 in petrol. As the pump only uses 2.2Kw then that would be a good option. 3) To set up a 12v lighting system via the cable ducts already running through the house. Because we have not previously had power cuts of this duration, the thought has never come to mind.

So sad to hear about the dogs and also others who are still cut off. Thanks Amaretto, for thinking about us. We were off until 7.00 pm Weds, so about 40 hrs. Luckily. we have a cheap analogue phone as a back-up, so could still make calls. For heating, we have a large woodburner, so that also came into use for about the longest time in 6 years!! Also have one of those Kerosene heaters, plus a lpg heater, so managed to keep the heat level constant. Lighting by candles is not the best when trying to cook though!! Felt sorry for the farmer across the valley from us, as he has 300 cows to milk twice a day, but he was connected on Tues evening. Then watched the power line that feeds us from above him go up like a large sparkler otherwise we would have been connected sooner. Biggest pain was drying off the dogs, as usually use a hairdryer after a quick towel down. Hope Dylano is back on by now as is everyone else.

Just stick with well known long time manufacturers, that have their own plants to make them. At least then if spares are needed, you have more chance of getting them quicker.

If you are in Rome,I would not think you would have too much trouble getting a landline installed. I use Telecom Italia and apart from a couple of minor disruptions (1 from modem blowing due to a power surge so not their fault) it has been very good. We live in the countryside, but have ADSL. Cost around E20 per month.

PS you've also made me think more about an air source heat pump, however i'm still keen to be frugal and stick with a 3kw supply.I'll bash on with the insulation first. Would suggest you steer clear of the Chinese models at the moment, as these are " bitzas" May be cheap, but when they go wrong!!!!

 From Alan's extremely usefull comments If they dump the treated sewage sludge in the sea, then the fish we eat on the coast has been munching away on that quite happily ........... Can we confirm that raw sewage is also not being pumped out by lesser unconfirmed mortals. Think would rather have it sprayed onto a field to decompose, rather than a fish nibbling on a floating lump!!!!

Agree Sprostoni. Everything has to be so sterile now and killed off by antibiotics or radiation.

Think I am too old for a nappy .............:-)