MILAN: Italy's energy regulator has fined gas network operator Snam Rete Gas 580,000 euros for breaching rules on measuring the energy content of its gas, the regulator said in a statement on Saturday.

The authority for electric energy and gas said the correct measurement of the higher calorific power of its natural gas was necessary in order to determine effectively the energy effectively supplied to market operators.

"In setting the sanction, the authority took account of some corrective actions taken by the company to improve the measurement service and avoid for the future similar infractions," the authority said.

The measurement data was not available on various occasions during the October 2006 to March 2009 period, it said.