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ENERGY

French power grid operator calls on users to cut energy consumption on Monday

French power grid operator RTE said there could be a 'tense' situation between the supply of power and user demand for electricity in France on Monday as a result of the colder temperatures currently affecting much of Europe.

Published: 2 April 2022 17:42 CEST
Updated: 4 April 2022 09:06 CEST
An image of an electricity pylon in France
An image of an electricity pylon installed by RTE (Electricity Transmission Network) near the town of Flers in Escrebieux, northern France. DENIS CHARLET / AFP

RTE asked companies and local authorities to cut their energy usage on Monday morning, particularly between 7 and 10am.

It also called on individuals to use appliances, such as dishwashers or washing machines, at the weekend, rather than on Monday, if possible.

READ ALSO: IN PICTURES: Snow falls across France

And it recommended other energy-saving actions, too, such as turning off unnecessary lighting, turning down the thermostat if you’re going to be out or completely unplugging appliances from at night.

RTE said that electricity consumption could reach 73,000 MW at around 9am on Monday while supply will only be around 65,000 MW. However, France can import up to 11,000 MW to make up any shortfall.

The operator does not expect any power cuts on Monday, it said.

Temperatures have plummeted across France in recent days with heavy snowfall and ice in many areas and sub-zero levels forecast for several regions on Monday morning, according to Météo France.

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ENERGY

Gas bills to rise by over 11% in France in July

For households that use gas for heating, cooking or hot water, bills will go up again in July as regulators increase tariffs.

Published: 11 June 2024 10:17 CEST
Gas bills to rise by over 11% in France in July

Starting on July 1st, gas bills will increase for the 10.5 million households in France which either heat with gas or use it for cooking and hot water.

France’s energy regulatory commission (Commission de régulation de l’énergie, or CRE) announced on Monday that the estimated increase for the benchmark price in June to July would be 11.7 percent. 

The price increase is related general market trends, but it also has to do with French consumption of gas dropping.

“We are witnessing the gradual exit from fossil fuels, with some consumers switching to electricity. In the meantime, those who remain on gas are fewer in number, but they must bear the costs,” Jacques Percebois, an economist with a speciality in energy, told Ouest France.

In France, the price one pays for gas includes the cost per kilowatt of consumption, taxes and the cost of delivery, with the base rate set by the regulator.

How much will my bills increase by?

The average household in France consumes 1,123kWh of gas per month, giving them a current monthly bill of around €124.

With the price increase, this bill will go up by about €14.80, with a little over half of that owing to the cost of distribution and about a third due to the increase in prices on wholesale markets, according to Ouest France’s calculations.

For those only using gas for cooking and hot water, the average monthly bill would go up from €20 to €23.30 a year.

Ultimately, the exact amount your bill will go up by will depend on your supplier, although companies tend to have broadly similar tariffs. 

Will the cost keep going up?

Experts expect the benchmark price to increase again by approximately 10 percent in August. However, it is also worth noting that expected prices dropped between February and June, according to MoneyVox.

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