This is a change that worries many customers, whose energy bills have already risen sharply in recent months. The end of the regulated gas tariff is scheduled for July 1, and those who benefit from it will have to switch to another offer. Why this deletion? Who is concerned and what are the steps to be taken? Le Figaro answers your questions.
How does the regulated gas tariff work?
Introduced in 1946 by the State, it allows the price of sale of gas to be set according to the costs of purchase on wholesale markets, storage costs, transport costs and taxes. It is also based on the recommendations of the Commission de régulation de l'énergie (CRE). The price thus evolves every month, up or down. In addition to contracts with regulated sales rates, there are also contracts on the market whose prices are directly set by suppliers, to which the millions of French concerned will have to turn.
Why does it stop?
If the regulated tariff made it possible to avoid price drifts, its abolition is linked to one of the measures of the Energy-Climate Law, adopted in 2019. This refers to a decision of the Council of State, adopted in 2017, which stipulates that the regulated tariff for the sale of gas is contrary to European law. For the organization, it is even "an obstacle to the achievement of a competitive gas market". If it is no longer possible to subscribe to a regulated contract since 2019, customers who signed a contract before that date have the option to keep it until 30 June 2023.
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Who is concerned by this end of regulated tariffs?
The end of regulated gas tariffs affects millions of individuals and small condominiums. Indeed, the end had already been introduced at the end of 2020 for professionals, large properties and communities. The July 1 limit is therefore aimed at the 2.5 million French people - out of the 11 million connected to gas - who have regulated contracts with Engie (formerly GDF) or local suppliers such as Gaz de Bordeaux, Gaz de Grenoble or Électricité de Strasbourg, which also supplies gas.
According to the CRE, 93% of consumers are attached to Engie and 7% to local companies. Also affected are the 2.4 million customers who have subscribed to a contract indexed to regulated sales tariffs with alternative suppliers. For those whose contract is not fixed on the regulated tariff or for those who benefit from a fixed price, no impact is to be expected.
How do you know if you are concerned?
Over the past three years, five letters have been sent to customers, the last of which arrived in mailboxes in March 2023. You can also contact your supplier to ask or view your latest gas bill. On Engie, a blue "Gas regulated tariff" logo is affixed to the top left of the invoice.
The blue "Gas regulated tariff" logo at the top left on an Engie invoice. Engie
What are the solutions for customers?
For the time being, the customers concerned can subscribe to another gas supply contract. It is not necessary to terminate your regulated rate contract, it will stop itself, without causing a gas cut. If nothing is done, these customers will "automatically switch to a new contract" at market price from Engie or a local supplier, said Tuesday morning on Cnews the Minister of Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher. Customers also have the option to change contracts with the same supplier or other companies, without additional costs.
In a few days, the CRE will publish "a complete reference price for gas that will include a subscription price and a price per kilowatt hour" and will be updated monthly. "Today, gas prices have returned to a normal level, assured the minister, it is a measure that is more technical than anything else."
Beware, however, of dishonest actors who could take advantage of this change to scam consumers, in particular by offering an attractive price before increasing it a few weeks later. It is therefore essential to read all the lines of your new contract. To evaluate suppliers' contracts, you have the possibility to use a comparator such as that of the Energy Ombudsman (energie-info.fr/comparateurs-et-outils).
Will the price shield on gas be removed?
Agnès Pannier-Runacher repeated this Tuesday morning, the "tariff shield on gas will be extended until the end of the year and the tariff shield on electricity until the end of 2024". They are thus supposed to control energy price increases and abuses by certain suppliers, without being able to freeze tariffs.
