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Regulated electricity tariffs in France are set to rise, on average, 3% from Sunday 15 August.

 

The increase in prices will cost households about €4 per month but, in some cases, the rises will much more. According to the Department of Energy, a small number of customers on unconventional tariffs will see prices increase steeply by as much as 8%.

 

The increases, published in the Journal Officiel, are the largest since July 2003 and are likely to feed through to higher prices in the supermarkets. For 90% of households, the rise will be less than €4 per month and in its statement the Department of Energy suggested most households could eliminate the increase by adopting energy efficiency measures.

 

Blue tariff for individual households will increase by 3%,  blue tariff pro for artisans and professionals, 4%, yellow tariff for small businesses, 4.5%, while  green tariff, reserved for large companies will increase 5.5%. The rates are fixed jointly by the Departments of Energy and the Economy

The Department of Energy conceded that, in part at least, the increase in prices was designed to act as an incentive for consumers to reduce their household energy consumption.

 

To minimise the impact of these increases here are some steps that can be taken:

 

• Switch off unnecessary lights
• Don’t leave electrical apparatus on stand-by for lengthy periods
• Switch to low-energy bulbs
• Consider steps to improve insulation
• Keep room doors closed
• Consider turning down thermostats in rooms which are not always occupied.
• Don’t leave chargers (e.g. for mobile phones and laptops) plugged in
• Don’t boil more water in electric kettles than is required.

 

 

 

 

 

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