The system of “electric buffers” to support SMEs and communities will be expanded if their electricity contract has been renewed “at the highest price” before June 30, 2023, indicated this Wednesday, November 29, the Minister of Energy Transition Agnès Pannier -Runacher. An announcement that will be confirmed by Elisabeth Borne this Thursday, during the Impact PME Show in Paris.
He explained that he wanted to support non-residential customers who renewed their subscription “at a time when the price of electricity was at its highest point, that is until June 30, 2023” and whose contracts “extend until 2024, sometimes even 2025 for some.
New features introduced for 2024
Changes are being introduced for 2024 in the aid system, those close to them told AFP: the State will cover the bill starting at 250 euros per MWh (compared to 180 euros per MWh in 2023) and the bill will be covered at 75% without maximum (compared to 50% in 2023).
The buffer affects companies with fewer than 250 employees and with a turnover or annual budget of less than €50 million, excluding very small companies that already benefit from the guaranteed rate of €280 per MWh.
In 2023, the electric shock absorber benefited more than 750,000 professional subscribers who presented the corresponding certificate, so that the support could be applied directly to their bill.
The collective shield was also extended
According to government estimates, around one in four contracts could receive state aid next year, that is, around 190,000, although the government estimates that it will be less after having asked suppliers in September to make a commercial gesture. in the highest contracts.
“The collective shield will also be expanded for communities and collective housing,” said the minister.
For individuals, protected since autumn 2021 by the “rate shield”, the State also continues to cover part of the electricity bill. This proportion amounted to 37% of the electricity bill in September, but will be gradually reduced during 2024. However, the government has assured that rates will not increase more than 10% in February, during the next review of the regulated rate, and throughout the year 2024.
In total, 10 of the 16 billion euros of savings in the 2024 budget will come from the gradual extinction – until the end of 2024 – of the electricity rate shield.
Source: BFM TV
