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EXPLAINED: How your French electricity bill will change in February

The Local France
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EXPLAINED: How your French electricity bill will change in February
Bill will rise in France in 2023. Photo by DENIS CHARLET / AFP

France's energy bills price freeze came to an end at the end of 2022, which means that gas and electricity bills can rise in 2023, albeit still with a cap in place. Here's what this means for your monthly bills.

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Last year saw a price freeze on energy bills that protected consumer from the spiralling gas and electricity charges seen in other European countries.

However, this came to an end on December 31st and instead a price cap has been imposed, that allows bills to rise. The first price rise - on gas bills - came into effect from January 1st, and from February 1st electricity bills can also rise.

Gas bills

From January 1st 2023, gas bills can increase by up to a maximum of 15 percent for customers of Engie (formerly known as Gaz de France). For the average consumer this will represent a rise of €25 per month, although obviously your bill will vary depending on the size of the home that you are heating. If you live in a small apartment, the price rise will probably be more like €15. 

Electricity bills

From February 1st electricity prices can also rise, again by a maximum of 15 percent. As before, the cap applies only to customers of EDF who are on the base rate tariff.

This will represent a rise of €20 per month for the average customer.

Businesses 

The price cap covers households but also small businesses - those businesses that have a turnover of less than €1 million per year - and the smaller communes such as village mairies.

Businesses that have seen a decline in profits, or those for whom energy bills represent more than three percent of their total turnover, will also benefit from the regulated tariff.

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Grants 

People on low incomes should have already benefited from a one-off chèque energie of between €100 and €200, which is expected to have reached 12 million households - or roughly four in 10.

Despite its name, the chèque energie is actually a cash grant, paid directly into your bank account.

The chèque was paid in December 2022 - and if you received previous grants and chèques energie it should have been paid to you automatically.

The grants are usually distributed automatically to people on low income, based on previous year's tax declarations, but foreigners and recent arrivals can slip through the net, especially pensioners.

If you believe that you are eligible but haven't received previous grants, you can go to your local CAF office to ask about eligibility.

For households that heat using fuel-oil, the French government has also offered a dedicated energy grant, but this cannot be used in tandem with the wood energy cheque.

You can learn more about how to access these grants here.

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