• With rising energy prices, ski resorts are worried about the 2022-2023 season.

  • Those that are part of the Nice Côte d'Azur metropolis have less to worry about thanks to the renegotiated energy contract in December 2021 which freezes prices until December 2023.

  • Energy-saving strategies had also been initiated in January 2022 in metropolitan ski areas, assures manager Frédéric Gil.

During the congress of French ski areas which took place in Lyon on Thursday and Friday, the ski resorts displayed a broad mobilization for energy sobriety.

A strategy already “adopted since January”, affirms for his part Frédéric Gil, the director general of the areas of the metropolis of Nice.

As the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, president of the community, announced two weeks ago, the global station contract with EDF was “renegotiated in December 2021” for a period of two years and by freezing prices.

A strategy that has made it possible, according to Frédéric Gil, “to contain an excessive increase.

We went from 58 euros per kWh to 120 or 180 depending on our stations.

But we are far from what can happen elsewhere.

“Some French estates are indeed wondering if they will not have to partially close this winter when they see their bill multiply by 10, by 15 “or even sometimes by 20”, comments Mylène Agnelli, vice-president of the national association of mayors of mountain resorts.

The day pass increases by 2 euros

The mayor of Isola and Isola 2000, a station in the Nice Côte d'Azur metropolis, is therefore better off.

“Here, the price is multiplied by 4. So it is relatively manageable compared to some of our neighbours.

But we also couldn't carry out our business as usual without consequences.

“The elected official therefore announced that the price of the package for the day would increase to 38 euros, instead of 36, for this season, which will begin at the beginning of December.

A decision voted by the metropolitan council.

Christian Estrosi however announced in September "the non-increase of services" and the "maintenance of prices" in "swimming pools, in gymnasiums, in cultural establishments" and confirmed that it would be the same for "resorts", the press having demanded this clarification.

Today, his entourage indicates that he only assured that "everything would continue to turn", implying that the lifts would operate normally and the stations would not close because of energy prices.

That is.

Slower lifts

To cope with the energy crisis and reduce their consumption by 10%, the stations of the metropolis have therefore adapted.

By taking the lead, assures Frédéric Gil.

“We have initiated a savings strategy since January 1.

For example, with artificial snow production activated only during off-peak hours or with reductions in the speed of the ski lifts.

We have also equipped our snow groomers with technology that provides precise indications based on the elevation and snow depth.

Thus, they are less energy-consuming and more efficient”.

At the same time, the staff was trained in advance for the 2022-2023 season, in particular in eco-driving.



The director of the stations of the metropolis then ensures that there will ultimately be “only few consequences for the customers”.

“It was never planned to close,” assures the mayor of Isola, who promises that “the objective is to continue reducing energy consumption”.

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