UPDATE 1-Edison H1 EBITDA falls, beats forecast

* H1 EBITDA higher on like-for-like basis, ex one-offs items

* H1 EBITDA beats average broker forecast

* Reiterates FY 2009 results forecast

(Adds detail, share price)

MILAN, July 24 (Reuters) - Italy's second-biggest utility Edison (EDN.MI) posted a 9.5 percent fall in its first-half core earnings but confirmed its guidance for full-year results to be in line with the previous year on a like-for-like basis.

In a statement on Friday Edison said its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was 732 million euros ($1.04 billion).

An average forecast of four brokers had pegged first-half EBITDA at 706 million euros.

The first half saw a strong fall in electricity consumption and of gas in the Italian market, it said.

Edison, jointly controlled by Italian regional utility A2A (A2.MI) and France's EDF (EDF.PA), said that stripping out non-recurring items and on a like-for-like basis core earnings rose slightly on the previous year.

Net profit in the period rose 19.6 percent to 122 million euros, mainly because of the impact of negative tax charges in the previous year.

Net debt at the end of June was 4.355 billion euros with a debt to equity ratio of 0.54.

At 1210 GMT Edison shares were up 0.1 percent at 1.023 euros. The DJ Stoxx utilities index .SX6P was 0.37 percent lower. ($1=.7043 euros) (Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; Editing by Mike Nesbit)