France to limit price hikes on gas and electricity
As energy prices soar across Europe, the French government has announced a raft of measures to protect consumers.
The French Prime Minister, Jean Castex, has promised a “price shield” for household gas and electricity consumers.
His announcement came during a television interview on TF1 on Thursday, with less than a year to go until the Presidential election.
🔴🗣️ "Pour le #gaz, l'électricité, nous allons mettre en place ce que j'appellerais un 'bouclier tarifaire', c'est-à-dire que nous allons nous prémunir contre ces hausses de tarifs" : @JeanCASTEX dans #LE20H de #TF1 ➡ https://t.co/no0SVwLWXF. pic.twitter.com/R8CXJYUb2N
— TF1Info (@TF1Info) September 30, 2021
Gas prices are set to rise by 12.6 percent this month, following a 7.9 percent rise in September, but will then remain frozen until April 2022. Only 1 percent of gas consumed in France is produced in the country. Global demand for gas typically rises during winter periods - the French government is trying to ensure that consumers won’t suffer.
To compensate the winter shortfall, gas companies are likely to charge consumers higher that normal rates once the freeze is lifted.
“We have to manage a spike [in price],” said the Prime Minister. Experts predicted that the price of imported gas could rise by 30 percent by the end of the year without intervention.
This strategy has been attacked on the French left, most succinctly by Fabien Roussel of the French Communist Party.
Les prix seront bloqués... après la hausse de 12% du gaz !!!
Quelle charlatanerie ! #Castex
— Fabien Roussel (@Fabien_Roussel) September 30, 2021
“The prices will be blocked… after a hike of 12 percent on gas. What a scam!!!”, he tweeted.
Those on the right have accused Castex and the government of fiscal irresponsibility in recent weeks, evoking an ‘open bar budget’ and ‘burning of the cash register’. Many, including the Senate leader of Les Republicains, Bruno Retailleau, described the energy plan as cynical electioneering.
READ ALSO Rising energy prices: How to save money on bills in France
“The government proposes a price shield on gas up until April. That’s to say just up until the presidentials. The price hikes will come later!” he wrote.
Le gouvernement propose un bouclier tarifaire pour le gaz jusqu’en avril. C’est à dire jusqu’aux présidentielles. Les augmentations ça sera pour après!
— Bruno Retailleau (@BrunoRetailleau) September 30, 2021
The government is only able to freeze prices of gas for households subscribed to Engie - one of France’s oldest energy suppliers in which the state holds a majority stake. It is expected that other gas companies (which account for about ⅔ of French households) will fall in line, in order to stay competitive.
The Prime Minister also announced that the next electricity price hike, planned for February 2022, would be limited to 4 percent after it had initially been forecast for three times as much. Since Emmanuel Macron was elected as President in 2017, electricity prices have doubled.
The government had previously announced that six million of the poorest households in France would receive extra energy subsidies of €100 in December. The so-called chèques énergies (energy cheques) were initially put in place during the yellow vest protests as a way to quell discontent.
A recent poll published by Opinionway predicts a second round victory for President Macron in next year’s election. But the first round could be tight, with the 43-year-old winning less than 30 percent of the vote. This being the case, the government has left room for maneuver on energy policy.
“If the measures we take are not enough, we will strengthen them,” Castex promised.
Comments
See Also
The French Prime Minister, Jean Castex, has promised a “price shield” for household gas and electricity consumers.
His announcement came during a television interview on TF1 on Thursday, with less than a year to go until the Presidential election.
🔴🗣️ "Pour le #gaz, l'électricité, nous allons mettre en place ce que j'appellerais un 'bouclier tarifaire', c'est-à-dire que nous allons nous prémunir contre ces hausses de tarifs" : @JeanCASTEX dans #LE20H de #TF1 ➡ https://t.co/no0SVwLWXF. pic.twitter.com/R8CXJYUb2N
— TF1Info (@TF1Info) September 30, 2021
Gas prices are set to rise by 12.6 percent this month, following a 7.9 percent rise in September, but will then remain frozen until April 2022. Only 1 percent of gas consumed in France is produced in the country. Global demand for gas typically rises during winter periods - the French government is trying to ensure that consumers won’t suffer.
To compensate the winter shortfall, gas companies are likely to charge consumers higher that normal rates once the freeze is lifted.
“We have to manage a spike [in price],” said the Prime Minister. Experts predicted that the price of imported gas could rise by 30 percent by the end of the year without intervention.
This strategy has been attacked on the French left, most succinctly by Fabien Roussel of the French Communist Party.
Les prix seront bloqués... après la hausse de 12% du gaz !!!
— Fabien Roussel (@Fabien_Roussel) September 30, 2021
Quelle charlatanerie ! #Castex
“The prices will be blocked… after a hike of 12 percent on gas. What a scam!!!”, he tweeted.
Those on the right have accused Castex and the government of fiscal irresponsibility in recent weeks, evoking an ‘open bar budget’ and ‘burning of the cash register’. Many, including the Senate leader of Les Republicains, Bruno Retailleau, described the energy plan as cynical electioneering.
READ ALSO Rising energy prices: How to save money on bills in France
“The government proposes a price shield on gas up until April. That’s to say just up until the presidentials. The price hikes will come later!” he wrote.
Le gouvernement propose un bouclier tarifaire pour le gaz jusqu’en avril. C’est à dire jusqu’aux présidentielles. Les augmentations ça sera pour après!
— Bruno Retailleau (@BrunoRetailleau) September 30, 2021
The government is only able to freeze prices of gas for households subscribed to Engie - one of France’s oldest energy suppliers in which the state holds a majority stake. It is expected that other gas companies (which account for about ⅔ of French households) will fall in line, in order to stay competitive.
The Prime Minister also announced that the next electricity price hike, planned for February 2022, would be limited to 4 percent after it had initially been forecast for three times as much. Since Emmanuel Macron was elected as President in 2017, electricity prices have doubled.
The government had previously announced that six million of the poorest households in France would receive extra energy subsidies of €100 in December. The so-called chèques énergies (energy cheques) were initially put in place during the yellow vest protests as a way to quell discontent.
A recent poll published by Opinionway predicts a second round victory for President Macron in next year’s election. But the first round could be tight, with the 43-year-old winning less than 30 percent of the vote. This being the case, the government has left room for maneuver on energy policy.
“If the measures we take are not enough, we will strengthen them,” Castex promised.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.