Eight in ten French households (79%) claim to have restricted their heating last winter to limit their bills, an unprecedented rate, in a context of sharp increases in energy prices, according to the Energy Mediator’s annual barometer , published on Wednesday. This rate, which was 69% in September 2022 and 53% in 2020, has never been so high, highlights the Mediator.
For nine out of ten consumers, energy consumption is a concern. Around 31% claim to have had difficulties paying their energy bills, 55% among those under 35 years of age and 46% among artisans and merchants. For a majority, energy sobriety is motivated mainly by economic reasons, rather than ecological issues.
Last year’s efforts were, 83%, mainly linked to budgetary issues (+2 points compared to 2022). On the other hand, environmental issues do not seem to have motivated the French more to lower the temperature (42%, -8 points) nor even issues of sobriety in a context of energy shortages (34%, -11 points).
However, those under 35 are more mobilized on ecological issues: 49% say they want to participate in energy efficiency efforts for environmental reasons, compared to 42% overall.
No more disputes
Furthermore, “probably as a consequence of the increase in energy prices”, the rate of conflicts with suppliers has increased slightly in recent years, notes the Mediator. Thus, 12% of consumers claim to have had a conflict or have filed a claim in 2023; They were 11% in 2022 and 8% in 2020.
The National Energy Ombudsman “expects energy suppliers to provide their customers with transparent and understandable information when prices increase,” the institution called on Wednesday.
This survey was conducted by the .becoming research institute from September 4 to 18 with a representative sample of 2,002 households surveyed electronically, for the fifth consecutive year.
Source: BFM TV
