Bruno Le Maire raises his voice. After a meeting with representatives of bakers on the rise in electricity prices, the Economy Minister recalled on Tuesday the various aid measures implemented by the Government to support merchants and small businesses while inviting the energy providers to “play the game”.
“I ask the energy providers to do more, to do it better and to do it immediately”, launched Bruno Le Maire, a few hours before a meeting with representatives of these companies on Tuesday afternoon.
Some providers “do not honor their commitments”
For the Bercy tenant, “a certain number of energy providers do not respect at all the commitments they have made under the letter” signed last October and according to which the providers “commit together with the State to help all customers, both professional and residential, to overcome this crisis and in particular to offer energy supply contracts under the best conditions”.
Consequently, “either they correct their behavior and provide the help that we have a right to expect from them (…), or we take the necessary measures to enforce these commitments and make sure that the suppliers also play the game in terms of supporting the artisans and, in particular, to bakers”, warned Bruno Le Maire, evoking the idea of ”taking more away from energy providers than we are doing today”.
Load reports, electric shock absorber: what aid for SMEs?
Bruno Le Maire recalled on Tuesday the measures implemented for SMEs and in particular for bakers who are facing rising energy prices. The latter can, in particular, turn to the Bercy counter, which only “about fifty SMEs per day” apply at this stage for financial aid.
To this device is added the buffer that allows covering 20% of the companies’ electricity bills, as well as the possibility of deferring the payment of social and tax charges.
“To make sure that all bakers in France are aware of all these devices, we will be writing a personalized letter this week to the 33,000 bakers in France,” Bruno Le Maire announced.
A reception point will also be set up for them in the prefectures for any questions. The services of the prefectures will also go directly to meet the bakers to inform them of the aid to which they are entitled.
Source: BFM TV
