It was expected and Bruno Le Maire confirmed it this Friday. The gas tariff shield will stop in July.
Implemented in 2021 with rising gas prices, this system froze regulated gas prices at their November 2021 level before increasing this level by 15% at the beginning of the year. But this shield, which will have cost 11.6 billion euros in public finances, is no longer necessary.
“There are two shields”, the Minister of Economy recalled this Friday ICL. “Sur le gaz, nous avions décidé de geler les prix du gaz il ya un peu plus de deux ans pour les particuliers. Maintenance qu’ils sont revenus à l’avant-crise, il n’y a plus de raison de maintenir un shield.”
In recent months, gas prices have actually fallen considerably.
According to data from the Energy regulatory commission (CRE), the scales published in April 2023 show that the average level of regulated sales rates without a tariff shield would have almost returned to a “normal” level since they would now only exceed the rates frozen in the framework by 1.3 of the shield. %, compared to a gap of almost 61% in January.
simpler invoices
An end to the system that must be accompanied by a simplification of bills that have become incomprehensible to the majority of gas service subscribers, Bruno Le Maire believes.
“I measure the concerns about these bills,” he admitted. “I will bring together Engie and several suppliers in the next few days to ask them for simplified invoices. This must be simplified and informed to the consumer.”
As for electricity, however, the shielding will be maintained. Unlike gas, electricity prices have not returned to their pre-crisis level due in particular to sub-optimal production, notably at French nuclear power plants.
Source: BFM TV
