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ENERGY

French TV to show ‘power map’ to avoid winter blackouts

France's national broadcaster said Friday it would begin broadcasting a "power map" to  viewers, showing demand for electricity around the country and areas where over-consumption could lead to blackouts.

Published: 24 September 2022 08:23 CEST
Ecowatt
Ecowatt colours the map red, orange or green depending on power consumption levels in France (Photo: monecowatt.fr)

Under a deal signed with the main operator of the country’s power grid, France Televisions will begin showing a real-time map called Ecowatt on its channels.

READ ALSO: ‘Ecowatt’: How you should use France’s new energy forecasting website?

The French government is worried about electricity shortages this winter due to cuts in gas supplies from Russia as well as major maintenance problems at its nuclear reactors.

During periods of worryingly high demand — which will be coloured in red — viewers will be encouraged to reduce their power consumption or avoid drawing on the grid at peak hours.

This photograph taken in Montigny-le-Bretonneux on September 15, 2022 shows screens at the RTE (Electricity Transmission Network) dispatch centre. (Photo by BERTRAND GUAY / AFP)

“One might put the washing machine on at 10pm rather than at 7pm,” France Televisions boss Delphine Ernotte told AFP.

The initiative with the RTE power lines operator is part of the state-run media group’s commitment to combat climate change, Ernotte explained.

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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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