A "
worrying
"
situation
that the surge in energy prices is unlikely to improve. The annual barometer of the National Energy Mediator *, published on Tuesday, highlights the increase in the number of French households in a situation of energy poverty. Difficulties in paying bills, cold felt in one's home, constrained reduction in heating ... All these indicators record “
a marked and notable increase compared to 2020
”, notes Frédérique Feriaud, director general of the services of the Energy Mediator.
One in five households (20%) thus declared in 2021 to have suffered from the cold for at least 24 hours in their home, ie six points more than in 2020. Main reasons mentioned, poor insulation (40%), financial difficulties (36%) and a harsh winter (30%).
Read also "Energy poverty" hits 3.5 million households and is expected to worsen
The fear of paying too high gas or electricity bills pushed a majority of French people in 2021 (60%) to reduce heating at home, according to this survey carried out among around 2,000 households.
This is twice as much as in 2019 (30%) and seven points more than last year.
Despite these precautions, a quarter of respondents (25%, +7 points compared to 2020) say they have encountered difficulties in dealing with certain drafts.
In question, "
the rise in energy prices, especially gas
", quotes in the first place Frédérique Feriaud. A typical customer at tariff B1, with an annual consumption of 17,000 kWh (heating use), has indeed seen his gas bill jump by 50% since the start of the year, according to figures from the Regulation Commission of the energy (CRE). "
With the Covid-19, people have had to be at home more often, due to confinements and
teleworking
, which may have contributed to increasing their consumption
», Adds the spokesperson for the Energy Mediator.
The health crisis has also hit the wallets of many French people, who found themselves overnight without a job or in partial unemployment, making it more difficult to pay energy bills.
Read also Energy price: visualize the massive increase in the bill of the French in recent months
The main victims
All these factors lead to the fact that "
energy weighs more and more in the household budget
", notes Frédérique Feriaud.
Almost eight in ten (79%, +8 points compared to 2020) say today that energy bills represent a significant part of their spending.
This is the highest rate ever recorded by this annual barometer.
Read alsoIs the electricity bill increasing less in France than elsewhere in Europe?
If the increase in fuel poverty compared to 2020 is to be noted, the audiences most concerned do not differ.
“
Like last year, it is the young people who say they are the most affected,
” notes Frédérique Feriaud.
Among 18-34 year-olds, nearly one in two households (46%) say they have had difficulty paying energy bills in 2021 (21 points higher than the overall figure), and 30% say they have suffered from cold (10 points higher than the share observed in the total population).
"No doubt because they were
more financially affected by the health crisis," assumes the Energy Mediator in his report.
The current context of soaring energy prices on the markets does not encourage the French to be optimistic about the future. 84% of them say they are concerned about their energy consumption. “
This is the first time since the creation of this barometer, in 2007, that we have exceeded the 80% mark,
” says Frédérique Feriaud. Note that this question was asked to respondents before the announcement by Jean Castex of the establishment of a "tariff shield" (gas tariffs freeze until April and limitation to 4% of the next tariff increase. electricity in February), to cope with soaring market prices.
* Survey carried out by the .becoming research institute from September 6 to 21, 2021 with a representative sample of 2016 French households interviewed electronically.
