Monday to Friday 9am - 12.30pm - 2pm - 7pm
Why are electricity prices rising?
Before giving you some tips on how to counter rising electricity prices, let's look at why electricity costs are rising.
The rise in electricity prices is linked to a number of factors, including :
- nuclear reactors shut down After discovering corrosion problems and a maintenance backlog, the half of France's nuclear reactors are shut down. This is causing a drop in nuclear power production and a sharp rise in prices.
- gas prices rise and imports of Russian gas will come to a halt: with tensions between Ukraine and Russia, the Russian company Gazprom stopped the "gas delivery from 1 September 2022". until you receive the full amount "due for delivery".. This is causing energy prices to soar. As the European Commission points out, "in 2021, 45 % of the EU's natural gas imports will come from Russia".
What is the government doing to limit the rise in electricity prices?
The 4 % tariff shield
This rise in prices necessitated government intervention.
In October 2021, former Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the introduction of the tariff shieldto cope with rising energy costs.
Reminder the tariff shield allows natural gas selling prices to be frozen and restricts the rise in electricity costs. This has been set at 4 %. As far as electricity is concerned, the tariff shield, which was due to end in February 2023, will in fact be extended to February 2024.maintained in 2023, as announced by Gabriel Attal.
What can you do in addition to the government measures?
Government measures have been put in place, but we are also aware that these measures remain insufficient for many French households. To counter this, there are simple alternatives to help you cope with rising prices.
Opting for photovoltaic panels
For an initial tip, this is one of the most cost-effective solutions: the photovoltaic panels. Why is that? Here are a few reasons:
- you draw the energy you need directly from the source Solar energy: unlike fossil fuels, with photovoltaic panels you benefit from solar energy, which is inexhaustible. So you'll always have enough. That's already a step towards being more environmentally friendly.
- lower energy bills Using solar energy means you can save money on your energy bills. What's more, depending on your energy requirements, the photovoltaic panels will provide you with the energy you need, free of charge. No more, no less, just what you need!
- add value to your home In addition to these first two reasons, did you know that photovoltaic panels increase the value of your property? Not only do they add a modern touch to your home, they also address a current and future issue: the depletion of fossil fuels.
We know that installing photovoltaic panels requires a substantial investment. Fortunately, there are financial assistance is available for the installation of photovoltaic panels at a reasonable price.
There are many other reasons to install photovoltaic panels, and to find out more, here are a few resources we recommend:
Reinforcing small everyday gestures
With energy-guzzling appliances and electricity prices currently soaring, small everyday gestures can make all the difference to your electricity bill:
- use the "eco" mode on your household appliances: When using your washing machine or dishwasher, favour the "eco" mode. With a 30°C cycle, this will reduce your energy consumption by 45 %, unlike other programmes.
- switch off appliances on standby : Wifi, boxes, computers and TVs all consume a lot of energy, especially when they're not in use. Switching them off can reduce consumption by up to 10 %.
- renovating your home Energy consumption: if a home is poorly insulated, it means that too much electricity is used to heat it, which in turn means higher bills. That's why it's so important to insulate your home. It's true that renovation work can be expensive, but in the long term you'll see that you'll save money and cut your energy bill by a factor of eight!
- monitor your consumption : By keeping a close eye on your consumption, you'll be able to identify the appliances that consume the most, and set targets for consuming just the right amount.
- program the heating : Like household appliances, heating consumes a lot of energy. To reduce this, you can programme the temperature (recommended at 17°C) in each room and at the time that suits you best.
You're no doubt familiar with these tips, but it's vital to take simple everyday steps to combat rising electricity prices.
Energy suppliers offer you better deals
To reduce your energy consumption, the energy suppliers have put together a number of attractive offers to help you cut your electricity costs considerably.
To give you an example, EDF offers what they call the Blue Tariffwith 3 key options:
- Basic" option The price of electricity per kWh is the same whatever the time and day of use.
- off-peak" option : it's during off-peak hours (generally between 10pm and 6am) that prices are much more attractive.
- tempo" option During the winter peaks, the "tempo" option benefits the beneficiary for a whole year. Prices will vary according to the colour of the day:
- blue days every year for 300 days
- white days From 1 September to 31 August (except Sundays)
- red days From 1 November to 31 March (this is a winter period, so energy consumption is higher and the price per kWh is higher).
For the ENGIE supplierIt also offers a number of deals to help private customers cope with rising electricity prices, such as the weekend option.Engie offers a lower price per kWh throughout the weekend (Friday midnight to Sunday midnight). In addition to weekends, this option also works on public holidays and from midnight to midnight. Could be interesting if you have an electric car. You can recharge it at a low cost, unlike what is available on the market.
To find out more: Which suppliers have specific offers for electric vehicles?
Using the Ecowatt application
Ecowatt is a website and mobile application that gives you an electricity weather forecast. You'll be warned in the form of an alert if the electricity system is orange, so you need to pay attention to your consumption, or if it's red and power cuts are possible.
This ecowatt application will help you monitor and adapt your consumption and, above all, anticipate the recharging of your electric car.
In addition, to save on your bill and reduce your consumption, it is advisable to use a recharging point during off-peak hours.
Want to go electric?
Beev offers multi-brand 100% electric vehicles at the best prices, as well as recharging solutions.
What about companies?
Just like private individuals, many businesses are also affected by these rising prices, and there are also tips on how to reduce your electricity bill.
On August 30, 2022, on the set of Quotidien, the Prime Minister, Elizabeth Borne, mentioned that businesses will be hardest hit by gas and electricity cutsThese are the biggest consumers of energy in France.
Will there be power cuts and rationing measures this winter?
- Quotidien (@Qofficiel) August 30, 2022
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne is attempting to respond to the growing concerns. #Daily pic.twitter.com/MtjS7vm5bE
Government aid for companies using gas and electricity
Businesses are also affected by these rising prices. To help them reduce their energy consumption, the government has decided to give them a helping hand by opening up gas and electricity" assistanceemergency and temporary aid. This aid, in the form of grants, will enable companies to cover gas and electricity costs.
To be eligible for this aid, here are the conditions:
- have gas and electricity bills that reach 3 % of sales in 2021
- have experienced a doubling in the price of electricity and/or gas over the eligible period compared with an average price in 2021
Since 4 July 2022, these companies have been able to apply for this aid:
- fill in a form which you will find in your professional area of the company's secure messaging system at impot.gouv.fr
- for submitting applications, the 2nd period counter (June, July and August) will be open from 15 September 2022 for a period of 45 days.
Tips for reducing your company's electricity bill
But how can businesses avoid these power and gas cuts? Fortunately, there are also tips for businesses.
Here are a few examples:
- raise your employees' awareness As with private individuals, eco-actions can be taken in the workplace, such as switching off lights when you leave a room, switching off computers after use, and taking advantage of daylight rather than switching on office lights, for example. As well as raising awareness, this will also strengthen your company's environmental credentials. CSR.
- optimising the use of office automation tools For example, each person can regularly clean up their mailbox by sorting the inbox, emptying the recycle bin and reducing the size of sent emails. By doing this, each employee reduces his or her environmental impact.
- adjust the temperature, avoiding opening windows when the air conditioning or heating is on; in winter, avoid overheating rooms. Ideally, rooms should be warmed to between 19 and 21°C to work in good conditions.
In conclusion
As we have just seen, the government is seeking to make everyday life easier for everyone in France. Except that this is not enough to see an improvement in the bill. As the government reminds us, households must also be responsible in their use and consumption of electricity.
With the tips we've just listed, your wallet will thank you!
Do you know any other tips for dealing with rising prices? Let us know in the comments.
