Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday night promised a “reasonable price” of electricity for businesses. Guest this Thursday morning on the set of Business B.F.M., the Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, detailed the future aid that will be implemented to help French companies face the energy crisis. The government puts ten billion euros on the table.
“There are 10,000 million euros to be divided between the bakery” and “the very large steel industry”, declared Bruno Le Maire. To do this, “we separate the different types of companies, because each one is in a very different situation.” VSEs, which have less than ten employees and invoice less than two million euros, will continue “to benefit from a regulated rate, exactly like households”, so “they will not increase by more than 15%” in 2023, said the minister.
price broker
For SMEs with up to 250 employees (and VSEs excluded from the 15% price increase limitation mechanism), a “specific device” of “several billion euros” will be put in place to amortize the light. For an SME, the regulated rate today represents “close to half of the bill” and “we don’t touch that,” he explained. In addition, “50% of the bill remains exposed to the market, with prices that can reach 800, 1,000, 1,200 euros per megawatt.”
“We will take half of that 50%, 25%, which we will put in a price broker, to lower the bill” and give “visibility”, declared Bruno Le Maire. “The floor has been set at 325 euros per megawatt”, while the ceiling will be set during the day.
There are medium-sized companies (ETI) with up to 5,000 employees and very large companies. “Or was it giving the same help to everyone at the risk of helping those who really don’t need it too much and not helping those who really need it enough, [soit] objective. We have opted for targeting, with a counter that will be simplified and massive for those who really need it among ETIs and large companies”, said Bruno Le Maire.
Criteria “too complicated”
The meter already installed “didn’t work at all” because “the criteria were too complicated,” he acknowledged, referring to discussions with the European Commission to review these criteria. “We won our case,” even if a “final confirmation” is still needed, he said. To be eligible, the bill must have increased by 50% and no more than doubled. Energy must also represent 3% of billing: this calculation will take the end of 2022 as a reference and no longer 2021.
Bruno Le Maire also mentions the doubling of the aid ceilings to 4.50 and 100 million euros. In addition, large companies will be able to request a deposit at this window, evaluating the amount they should receive. But, in case of overpayment, it will be necessary to refund.
Source: BFM TV
