Electricity price stability in February 2024? Bruno Le Maire’s response

There are only a few days left before the French will have to endure a new increase in electricity prices. From 1^er February, EDF’s regulated tariff should really skyrocket and this time, without actually benefiting from the protection of the tariff shield. So do we have to count on stability in electricity prices to save consumers’ wallets?

Electricity prices have already increased by more than 30%

Although a price shield system was put in place in 2021, to protect French consumers facing Increase in energy pricesFaced with lightning An increase of 30% Its worth in two years. A finding that alarmed consumer associations, who recently called for fresh action from the government. Also demanded Freeze or limit the next increase in the regulated electricity sales tariff1 is scheduled for^er Next February. An increase which, according to Bruno Le Maire, should not exceed 10%. Even if it is lower than the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) forecast, it remains significant for all consumers, who will have to reach into their wallets again to pay their bills. By reducing their purchasing power An average of 630 euros extra per year

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This Monday, January 15, a big blow to consumers. Indeed, while traveling to the Gravelines nuclear power plant, the current Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, suggested that we should not count on any stability in electricity prices. “We will discuss with the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic the final figure that will be retained, but I repeat what I have said, which is that I keep my word, there will be none. No increase in electricity price by more than 10 percent in the coming days”, he recalled. Continue: “I have always suggested that we should collectively come out of the energy shield, we have all collectively spent more than that. 40 billion euros To pay France’s gas and electricity bills during the inflation crisis, no other country has done so“

The beginning of the end of the tariff shield

Not a surprising conclusion given the government’s position for several months. Indeed, if the tariff shield has proven its effectiveness on numerous occasions, it also represents a significant envelope for public funding. An envelope that it is high time – according to Bercy – to absorb, or even compensate. Why is this, no face A relative return to normal in gas and electricity prices, it’s time for the state to close the floodgates. In early July 2023, the then Minister of Public Accounts, Gabriel Attal, confirmed that “Since we have to save, we must move away from certain measures that we took especially during the inflationary crisis.

(…) This means that we have to gradually come out of the tariff shield on energy prices“

On the gas side, the protection system disappeared last summer. As far as electricity is concerned, the countdown has begun, for Total extinction is expected by 2025. And in the meantime? It will be necessary to focus on it Constant increase in electricity prices. The next price peak is traditionally being predicted Next August.

The Economy Minister also reminded in Gravelines this Monday that “This exceptionalism is unsustainable, it is too expensive for our public finances, it costs too much“, adding that “Money does not fall from the sky” According to Bruno Le Maire, it is “It is too easy to suggest that we can spend billions and billions of euros“While there”Needs in hospitals, schools and public services“

Can we save ourselves from electricity price hike?

Going by the government announcements one after the other, an increase in electricity prices seems inevitable at present. However, there is a way to protect yourself from this by choosing New electricity offer, called a “fixed price offer”. These offers, to some extent, are of a certain type, specialty Guarantee equal price (excluding tax), from the first day of subscription to the end of the contract, which may be for one year, two years or even three years. Although they are generally more expensive than offering electricity at prices indexed at the time of subscription, they can prove Especially beneficial in the event of a sharp price increase

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💡 Note however that the “immutable” part of these offers is not a concern There is no tax. This is the same for all customers and increases in the same way. For example, the excise duty on gas has been increased recently, so customers who have subscribed to the fixed price gas offer have also faced the subsequent increase.

In the meantime, find some advantageous fixed price electricity offers:

^*Table updated on 01/16/2024. In the base option (6 kVA) the budget is calculated for a consumption of 12,500 kWh per year in Lyon.