Were notably represented the Energy Regulation Commission (CRE), EDF, TotalEnergies, EngieI’French Electricity Union (UFE), the professional union of local energy companies (ELE), theNational Association of Energy Retail Operators (ANODE), theIndependent French Association of Electricity and Gas (AFIEG), theNational Union of Local Electricity and Gas Companies (UNELEG), the business and energy mediators.
This exchange between suppliers and high authorities of the State was the place of a decisive discussion on a major priority: that of lowering these prices in the short term and this, by means of several actions:
- Optimize efforts to meet energy sobriety objectives by reducing energy consumption over time;
- Produce more so-called “carbon-free” electricity;
- Ensure that the fall in prices is sustainable on the markets, by carrying out reforms on a European scale.
Support individuals and small businesses
Support for these beneficiaries weakened by the crisis will be provided by means of a tariff shield for individuals, but also for VSEs and small local authorities.
It should be noted on this point that nearly 1.5 million small businesses are protected by this tariff shield on electricity. A measure that is not sufficiently known by the leaders of VSEs: to find out if they are eligible, Minister Olivia Grégoire invites them to contact their supplier.
A reduction in taxation and subsidy aid will also be applied for companies that are considered to be large energy consumers.
What are the state support measures?
At the end of this meeting, Bercy announced three support measures:
1. Extension and simplification of aid in 2023 which concern the payment of energy bills (gas and electricity) for large energy-consuming companies;
2. Implementation of a State guarantee to reduce the company’s risk of default with a supplier. In other words, the State acts as guarantor for the bank guarantees requested when signing energy supply contracts. This guarantee will be implemented as of the Finance Bill 2023;
3. A reference electricity price will be published for several professional consumer profiles. It will allow companies and communities to compare prices with the offer received from a supplier before committing.
A charter to help consumers
Faced with the proliferation of contractual difficulties between suppliers and customers, a good number of suppliers have signed a charter which includes 25 points aimed at helping consumers deal with the energy crisis.
Here are the main ones:
→ Prevent businesses clients the end of validity of their contract 2 months before its term;
→ Act, under certain conditions, in provider of last resort by offering all customers (companies included) who request it at least one contract ;
→ Promote the setting up payment facilities for companies or local authorities who request it;
→ Promote the competitive bidding commercial offers;
→ Favor offers that take into account the challenges of the electrical system which remunerate, for example, a load shedding capacity when the system is under voltage or which encourages lower energy consumption; ;
→ Pass on the aid intended for end consumers as soon as possiblelike the extensions of the energy tariff shields to condominiums, including in commercial offers.
Note that this charter has been signed by many suppliers (EDF, Engie, TotalEnergies, GEG, Seolis, Soregies, Alterna Energies), but also by supplier associations (AFIEG, UFE, UNELEG, ANODE, ELE).
Following this meeting, what is the next step? Ministers and suppliers agreed to continue these exchanges in the next weeks in order to ensure that these measures are in place and D’improve the quality of relations between suppliers and consumers.
To be continued …