In a statement, the UFC-Que Choisir denounced Monday the "aberration" of VAT on energy taxes, which weigh on electricity and gas bills.

The consumer defense association is launching a petition to say "stop tax escalation".

The UFC-Que Choisir denounced Monday the "aberration" of VAT on energy taxes, which weigh on electricity and gas bills, and launched a petition to say "stop tax escalation".

The consumer defense association denounces in a press release "the aberration of VAT on energy taxes" which represents over one year "57 euros on the bills of households heated by electricity (1 billion overall!) And 48 euros for gas-heated households ".

VAT is in fact added to certain taxes and contributions, which represent about a third of the bill.

"A hellish suction pump"

For the electricity of individuals, a VAT at 5.5% is thus applied to the amount of the subscription but also to the "transmission tariff contribution" (CTA), intended to finance the specific old-age insurance rights of personnel in the electricity and gas sector.

A 20% VAT is also applied to the contribution to the public electricity service (CSPE) and to taxes on final electricity consumption (TCFE).

"But where is the 'added value' of a tax? The original logic of the VAT is completely distorted to make it nothing but an infernal suction pump," according to the UFC, which launches a petition on its site Internet.

The association had already denounced in May an "explosion of electricity bills".

According to his calculations, the regulated sales tariff (TRV) for electricity has increased by nearly 50% in ten years.

It also launched a campaign on Monday to bring together consumers to secure advantageous electricity and gas contracts from suppliers.