• If the ski resorts have the obligation to open this season, they nevertheless fear being greatly weakened by the vertiginous rise in the price of electricity.

  • For some of them, the bill could be multiplied by 7 or 8.

  • Domaines skiables de France pleads for energy sobriety and asks the State that ski lift companies integrate the aid system for companies that consume large amounts of energy.

The vertiginous rise in the price of energy, which is now occupying everyone's mind, has ski resorts fearing the worst.

From there to imagine that some of them will not open at the start of the winter season?

“We are unable to sign a new contract with EDF given the proposals made to us.

The electricity bill would represent between 20% and 25% of our turnover, against 5% currently”, denounced on France 3 Sébastien Giraud, the general manager of the ski lifts of Villard-de-Lans (Isère) .

And to drive the point home: “We will not be able to pay it.

As things stand, we won't be able to open.

»

Words tempered by others.

“It is an aberration to say that the slopes will not be able to open because, in reality, we have an obligation to do so.

This is not an option, ”we emphasize on the side of Val Thorens.

“Chairlifts are considered a means of transport, just like buses or metros.

Ski lift managers have public service delegations.

They therefore have an obligation to open”, specifies Anne Marty, deputy general manager of Altiservice and deputy president of Domaines skiables de France (DSF).

An invoice multiplied by 7 or 8?

This is something to reassure skiers.

Resorts will be required to rotate their chairlifts, but at what cost?

Many already dread having to pay astronomical bills.

“The impact will be significant, even if the situation is disparate from one station to another”, already fears Anne Marty.

Those whose electricity supply contract is in progress will not be the most penalized.

For others, time is running out.

Stations whose contract expires on January 31, “must sign quickly”.

Otherwise, "the prices could be multiplied by 7 or 8", she worries.

Altiservice manages the stations of Saint-Lary and Font-Romeu in the Pyrenees.

In the worst-case scenario, the “bill would rise from 2 million to 15 million euros, underlines Anne Marty.

We would go from a net result of 4.5 million euros to -2 million euros.

This is not bearable for our stations.

»

Denouncing the “very sudden rise in electricity prices” and fearing “an economic shock”, Domaines skiables de France asked the State that ski lift companies be able to benefit from the support system for energy-intensive companies “ in the same way as all the other French sectors".

In the meantime, salvation will come through combined actions at the national level.

Towards an increase in packages

“The priority is to adopt a sobriety plan to reduce our consumption as much as possible, indicated on RCF Alexandre Maullin, president of DSF.

With a little ingenuity, we can all come up with a 10% drop.

“Reflections are underway.

In low-traffic time slots, we could, in a sector served by two cable cars, stop one, “says one in Val Thorens.

"We can also lower the speed from 6 m/second to 4 m/second", continues Anne Marty.

Especially since "the skier will not realize the difference", according to Alexandre Maullin who does not want "to cry fire before the house even burns down".

The rise in package prices seems, for its part, inevitable.

“Part of the additional cost will inevitably be passed on to the end customer,” confirms DSF, adding that discussions on this subject must be conducted with the local authorities.

Lille

Lille: Does energy sobriety have a cold and dark future in store for us?

Company

Rising energy prices: The Dechaumont foundries bill becomes a ticking time bomb

  • Company

  • Energy

  • electricity

  • Ski station

  • Alps

  • Pyrenees

  • Economy