While energy costs have increased overall, businesses with fewer than 10 employees could soon see their electricity bills drop.
An agreement is emerging between the government and socialist deputies aiming to extend regulated electricity prices to VSEs (very small businesses), AFP learned Wednesday from Bercy and the deputy author of the text, Philippe Brun (PS) , confirming information from RTL.
The bill must be examined for the third time in the National Assembly chamber on Thursday.
It has already been adopted four times against the advice of the government in both the lower house and the Senate.
Its initial aim was to protect in law the 100% ownership of EDF by the State, already effective, to prevent possible dismemberment in the future.
But the text now also proposes the extension to February 1, 2025 of regulated electricity sales tariffs (TRVE) to VSEs, craftsmen, small farmers and small municipalities.
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It also opens up a share of employee shareholding, forcing EDF to open up at least 2% of its capital, against the advice of Bercy and part of the presidential camp, who cite a risk of slowing down the time taken to make strategic decisions. .
This last measure crystallizes the tensions between Philippe Brun and the government, but the latter “has found an agreement with the rapporteurs”, we underline at Bercy even if the sound of the bell is more measured in the Assembly.
“We are discussing the agreement with everyone,” Philippe Brun told AFP, arguing this Wednesday that discussions are still underway.
The draft agreement must in particular be presented to several opposition groups which have allowed the text to pass so far against the advice of the executive.
“It is unprecedented that an opposition text comes to three readings in Parliament and that the government seeks an agreement on it at the end,” rejoices the MP.
Towards the compulsory opening of an employee shareholding share
If it was not modified on Thursday, the text would only need a final vote to be definitively adopted, but an agreement with the government could facilitate the issuance of implementing decrees, or even make it possible to avoid a referral. by the executive of the Constitutional Council.
The presidential camp has repeatedly estimated that the article on regulated prices could be censored as a legislative rider, because it does not have a sufficient link with the initial text.
In the hemicycle, the government will propose making possible and no longer compulsory the opening of an employee shareholding share, Bruno Le Maire's office indicated on Wednesday, while emphasizing that in the immediate future, the government wishes favor “participation and interest” to enable the sharing of value.
The conditions of access would be set by decree.
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The text will also propose to return to a paragraph of the text which sets the ownership of Enedis by EDF at 100%, to reduce it to a minimum of 50%, while ensuring that the rest of the capital can only be transferred to "the State” and companies or public bodies.
The article on the extension of TRVE would be retained.
If the law were passed, the cost would be “zero for public finances”, we assure Bercy, with TRVE contracts no longer being subsidized by the State within the framework of the tariff shield.
If these amendments are the only ones adopted, as well as possibly editorial amendments from the rapporteurs, “then the government and the majority will support” the text, we assure Bercy, who mentions a “commitment” to register it in the Senate “April 3”.