This is an announcement that should give some breathing space to companies strangled by rising energy bills.
Set up by the executive in January 2023, the electricity buffer is intended for all SMEs not eligible for the tariff shield.
Olivia Grégoire, the Minister Delegate in charge of Trade, announced Tuesday on BFMTV an additional period of three months to apply for this aid directly integrated into the invoices.
Initially, the VSEs and SMEs concerned had until the end of March to send their electricity supplier a certificate of eligibility for the system.
It is now possible to do so until the end of June.
To date, "
more than 75% of eligible companies have sent their eligibility certificate
", said Olivia Grégoire, Thursday morning on Cnews.
The additional time should therefore allow latecomers to take the necessary steps.
The amount of the rebate varies according to each electricity contract.
If you have a unit price for the energy part of 350 euros/MWh (0.35 euro/kWh), the electricity buffer allows you to cover around 20% of your total electricity bill.
For VSEs, the electric shock absorber makes it possible to “
benefit from a guaranteed rate of €180/MWh
”, assures the minister.
The aid is directly integrated into the companies' electricity bills and the State compensates the suppliers.
Read alsoThe exasperated VSEs in front of the energy aid gas plant
Damper feedback
However, “
there were a few hiccups
,” concedes the minister.
The electricity shock absorber did not appear on the invoices of all the companies having requested it.
Despite these exceptions, Olivia Grégoire wants to be reassuring, saying that the vast majority of applicants would have benefited from it.
Pedagogue also, explaining the retroactivity of the shock absorber: "
I send my eligibility certificate in April, I have a little delay but the shock absorber will be applied to the next invoices
".
The form to send to your electricity supplier is a simple sworn statement, available on the Bercy website.
The electricity buffer is in effect until December 31, 2023.
