Maud Descamps 11:08 a.m., June 16, 2022

EDF unions have pointed to the risks posed by the tariff shield, at a time when rising energy prices are breaking records.

If the prices are framed for the French, EDF pays the high price.

For CGT secretary Philippe Page, we "EDF gun", he warned.

EDF rises against the tariff shield.

If the price control aims to preserve the purchasing power of the French, it is EDF who must bear the cost.

The unions have sounded the alarm: the future of society is at stake. Indeed, it cost the electricity supplier 8 billion euros.

>> Find Europe Matin in replay and podcast here

The unions fear "the death of the public company EDF"

The CGT secretary of EDF's central Corporate Social Committee (CSE), Philippe Page, believes that we "EDF gun".

"I have no other words", he estimated with Europe 1. "And we arrive at a situation where we will be beyond 70 billion in debt, even 80 billion at the end of the year 2022. And so, for some, it would be a great windfall to say 'We are going to nationalize it for three quarters of an hour and then, in the next quarter of an hour, we are going to cut it into pieces to offer its activities the most profitable to private shareholders'. In other words, the death of the public company EDF." 

According to the unions, there would be an alternative to the tariff shield - to request a derogation from Brussels so that the price of electricity is no longer calculated on that of gas.

A derogation already granted to Spain and Portugal.

This proposal will be presented on June 29 at an EDF board meeting.