From 2021, and especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, energy prices have reached levels never seen in modern history in Europe.

Many states have subsidized prices for individuals to avoid shock bills, France cutting edge for an increase limited to 15% this year, until at least June 30.

In the Var hinterland, Jeanne, 76, decided not to turn on her auxiliary electric heating: "It's too expensive. I'm afraid of having a bad surprise on my bill at the end of year".

This retiree, owner, who receives the minimum old age, only turns on her heat pump two days a week, "to drive the humidity out of the house" and stacks the sweaters "to hold on".

A 15% increase in regulated tariffs, "it remains a shield", argued the president of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) Emmanuelle Wargon at the end of December.

Without the tariff shield financed by the State, electricity would have had to increase by 99.22% including tax, according to the scale made public in January by CRE and set according to the costs of supplying electricity on the wholesale markets. .

On Wednesday, the increase will concern 20.54 million households and 1.45 million small professionals in France, as well as Corsica and Overseas.

Among them, Catherine Richard, near Verdun, has decided to lower the price of a night in her gîte from 120 to 170 euros until the end of winter: "We prefer to have no one rather than fill the oil tank," she told AFP.

"The new prices will be passed on to the bill each month," EDF told AFP.

For customers who do not want to modify their monthly payments, an adjustment at the end of the year will be applied.

"Because the share of transport and housing expenditure is a little higher in their consumption basket, households with the lowest incomes are more strongly affected by the rise in energy prices", underlined on several occasions the 'Insee.

Electricity tariffs had been frozen in France since February 1, 2022, when they had increased by 4%, under the "tariff shield" announced in October 2021 by the then government.

In total, this tariff has therefore increased by 19.6% since 2021.

The public subsidy for gas and electricity will cost the state 46 billion euros in 2023, according to Bercy on Tuesday.

© 2023 AFP