With the energy crisis, this mechanic only has "eyes to cry"

• On January 23, bakers will take to the streets to express their concern or anger at rising energy prices.

• Other craftsmen are also victims of high electricity or gas bills.

  20 Minutes

  went to meet them.

• In Pas-de-Calais, this garage is facing an increase of more than 25% in its gas and electricity bills.

  In addition, this mechanic must also deal with failures in the supply of spare parts.

It is a small automobile garage which employs six employees and two apprentices.

Olivier Bocaert has been a business leader for over twenty years.

In the village of Croisilles, in the Pas-de-Calais, he has always had competition from another Renault garage.

And yet, at 55, he is experiencing one of the most difficult periods for his garage.

Blame it on the energy crisis, but not only.

met him.

What has changed in your working day since the rise in energy prices?

Now we have to save money at all levels.

We make more mistakes.

All the places where we don't work, we turn off the light.

Before, our reception hall stayed on until 10 p.m., now we turn it off at 7 p.m., when the workshops close.

It's more constraints, but we adapt.

How much has your energy bill increased?

For 2022, the increase is estimated between 25% and 30% for gas and electricity.

But this increase is on top of everything else.

Spare parts, tools, oil… All prices are skyrocketing.

How was this increase passed on to customers?

For the moment, we have not passed anything on to customers because we know that it is complicated for everyone.

This year, we hope to be able to do the same.

We will see the evolution.

But there's no mystery, I don't know how long we can hold out in this situation.

The luck is not to have any more loan on the garage and not to have used the loan at zero rate at the time of the closing because of Covid-19.

Fortunately for us, because it was a poisoned gift, this loan.

What state or community aid do you receive?

None.

We're probably too small to get any help.

We only have our eyes left to cry.

If this increase continues, what will your situation be in January 2024?

What I would have liked is to please my employees, but I believe that they will be the first affected by the situation.

If this continues, at some point, the cash will no longer be there and it will be very complicated.

Especially since the supply leaves something to be desired.

For repairs, spare parts are increasingly difficult to obtain.

Especially since October.

And no delivery time can be guaranteed.

For example, I've been waiting for a Clio hood for weeks.

And I can't promise anything to the client.

We are in total limbo.

What saves us is that it's the same for the competition.

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