2023, a year of all dangers for household gas bills

• As every year, the editorial staff of

  20 Minutes

  accompanies you during the December holidays.

  And like every one at this time, we look back on the past year and we plan for the one to come.

• Until December 31, find all the major events of 2022, from the most catastrophic to the coolest.

  In this twelfth episode, focus on the price of gas (yes, that one, it's really not nice).

• The gas price increase will be 15% on average from 1 January.

  Who will pay more on January 1?

  Will there be further gas price increases in 2023?

  We answer all your questions about getting into the new year on the right foot, good wallet.

French households have been mostly spared this year by soaring gas prices thanks to the tariff shield or thanks to a fixed price contract, but 2023 will be a more difficult course to pass.

By how much will the regulated price increase?

Who will pay more on January 1?

tells you everything about gas at the time of resetting the meters (and Happy New Year)…

By how much will the regulated price increase?

The increase will be 15% on average from January 1 for customers who have subscribed to an offer at the regulated natural gas sales tariff (TRVg) or whose contract is indexed to this tariff.

For those who use gas for cooking (base rate) or hot water (B0), the increase could be less, everything will depend on a government order expected by December 31.

Some households, businesses or condominiums contracted under a market price contract or whose contract expired in 2022 have already seen their prices explode and are in difficulty.

In co-ownership, the tariff shield works less well: the aid is capped and the trustee of the building or the social landlord must claim aid a posteriori.

Who will pay more on January 1?

About 40% of households.

These are Engie subscribers at the regulated tariff or one of the 22 local suppliers, such as Gaz de Bordeaux, or customers of other suppliers with an offer indexed to the regulated tariff.

For these customers, the prices have not changed since November 1, 2021 thanks to the price shield without which the bill would have increased by 122%.

The State paid the difference and compensated the gas suppliers.

Currently, "we can find contracts at the same level as the regulated tariff but not cheaper", explains to AFP the energy mediator, who offers an independent and free comparator of offers (http://comparateur. energy-info.fr).

Who escapes the January rise?

Nothing changes for customers or condominiums who had subscribed to a fixed price offer, often over one or more years.

But they expose themselves to a price increase when their contract expires: some have already doubled, tripled or more in 2022. It is advisable to compare the offers carefully because the condominiums, when they commit, pay penalties in case of termination.

Will there be further gas price increases in 2023?

Probably.

The tariff shield was extended until June 30 by the 2023 finance law. The next day, the regulated gas sales tariffs will disappear for everyone, because they are deemed to be contrary to European law.

The customers concerned have received several letters, according to the energy mediator, and will have to sign a new contract.

If they remain passive, they will automatically switch to Engie (ex-GDF Suez) in a contract that they will not have chosen, however.

On July 1, the Energy Regulatory Commission will set up a reference price which could serve as a basis for the continuation of the tariff shield.

Does rising gas prices reduce consumption?

Gas consumption in France, as elsewhere in Europe, has dropped significantly since August 1, but it is difficult to know whether this is due to the price or to an effort of sobriety.

For households, the drop has been 14% since August 1, according to climate-corrected figures as of December 18 by GRTgaz and compared to the winter of 2018-2019 serving as a reference.

But the spectacular drop in gas consumption by large French manufacturers (-22%) shows that the rise in prices does indeed force customers to reduce their consumption, since companies are not protected by the tariff shield.

Another illustration: in a country like Belgium, where there is no capped gas price, the drop in household consumption reached -20% in November, compared to the 2019-2021 average, according to the Bruegel Institute. .

Is rising prices a necessary evil?

The question arises at a time when Europe wants to accomplish its energy transition and reduce its consumption of fossil fuels such as gas and oil, which emit greenhouse gases.

For the consumer defense association CLCV, the increase is however unsustainable, and the aid insufficient because "for people with incomes of less than 2,000 euros per month, some devote 60% of their budget to essential expenses", including the energy.

our dossier on purchasing power

Yes, say, on the contrary, some experts who emphasize the importance of the “price signal” to encourage energy sobriety.

They believe that a price distorted by state intervention leads to overconsumption, instead of concentrating subsidies on aid for thermal regulation and renovation.

high tech

Retro 2022: Framing artificial intelligence to avoid brain knots

World

Retro 2022: Elections plagued by disinformation

• Economy

• Retrospective

• New Year

• Consumption

• Gas

• purchasing power

• Inflation