Why are electricity prices rising?
Before we give you some tips to counter rising electricity prices, let's take a look at why electricity costs are rising.
The rise in electricity prices is linked to several factors, including :
- nuclear reactors shut down After the discovery of corrosion problems and a maintenance backlog, half of France's half of France's nuclear reactors are shut down. This has led to a drop in nuclear power production and soaring prices.
- gas prices rise and russian gas imports come to a halt : with tensions between Ukraine and Russia, the Russian company Gazprom is stopping the "gas deliveries from September 1, 2022" until it receives until it receives the full amount "due for deliveries".. This is causing energy prices to soar. As the European Commission points out, "in 2021, 45% of the EU's natural gas imports will come from Russia".
What is the government doing to limit the rise in electricity prices?
The 4% tariff shield
This price increase necessitated government intervention.
In October 2021, former Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the introduction of a tariff shield to cope with rising energy costs.
Reminder the tariff shield locks in the sale price of natural gas and restricts the rise in electricity costs. This has been set at 4 %. As far as electricity is concerned, the tariff shield, which was due to end in February 2023, will finally be maintained in maintained in 2023, as announced by Gabriel Attal.
What can you do in addition to government measures?
Government measures have been put in place, but we are also aware that these measures remain insufficient for many French households. To counter this, simple alternatives exist to help you cope with rising prices.
Opt for photovoltaic panels
For a first tip, this is one of the most cost-effective solutions: photovoltaic panels. photovoltaic panels. Why is this? Here are a few reasons:
- you draw the energy you need directly from the source Unlike fossil fuels, with photovoltaic panels you benefit from solar energy, which is inexhaustible. So you'll always have some available. And that's already a step towards a more environmentally-friendly approach.
- lower energy bills Your energy bill will be lower: using solar energy saves you money on your energy bills. What's more, depending on your energy needs, photovoltaic panels provide you with the energy you need, free of charge. No more, no less, just what you need!
- add value to your home In addition to these first two reasons, did you know that photovoltaic panels add value to your property? Not only do they add a modern touch to your home, they also address a current and future issue: the depletion of fossil fuels.
We're well aware that installing photovoltaic panels requires a substantial investment. Fortunately, there are financial assistance is available to install photovoltaic panels at a reasonable price.
There are many more reasons to install photovoltaic panels, and to find out more, here are a few resources we recommend:
Reinforce small everyday gestures
With energy-guzzling appliances and electricity prices currently skyrocketing, small everyday gestures can make all the difference to your electricity bill:
- set your household appliances to "eco" mode: when using your washing machine or dishwasher, favor the "eco" mode. With a 30°C cycle, this will cut your energy consumption by 45%, unlike other programs.
- switch off devices on standby: Wifi, boxes, computers, television(s) all consume a lot of energy, especially when they're not in use. Switching them off can reduce energy consumption by up to 10%.
- renovate your home Energy efficiency: if a home is poorly insulated, it leads to over-consumption of electricity to heat the house, and subsequently higher prices on the bill. That's why it's so important to insulate your home. It's true that renovation work can be expensive, but in the long term, you'll see that you'll save money and cut your energy bill by a factor of eight!
- monitor your consumption: By carefully monitoring your consumption, you'll be able to identify the appliances that consume the most, and set targets to consume just the right amount.
- program the heating : Just like household appliances, heating takes up a lot of energy. To make this less the case, you can program the temperature (recommended at 17°C) in each room and at the time that suits you best.
You're probably familiar with these tips, but it's more important than ever to adopt simple everyday gestures to combat rising electricity prices.
Energy suppliers offer you better deals
To reduce your energy consumption energy suppliers have put together a number of attractive offers to help you cut electricity costs considerably.
To give you an example, EDF offers what they call Tarif bleuwith 3 key options:
- Base" option: the price of electricity per kWh is the same whatever the time and day of use.
- off-peak" option: during off-peak hours (generally between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.), prices are much more attractive.
- tempo" option: during winter peaks, the "tempo" option benefits the beneficiary for a whole year. Prices will vary according to the color of the day:
- blue days : every year for 300 days
- white days: September 1 to August 31 (except Sundays)
- red days: from November 1 to March 31 (this is a winter period, with higher energy consumption and higher prices per kWh).
For the ENGIEalso offers a number of deals to help consumers cope with rising electricity prices, such as weekend option. Engie offers a lower price per kWh for the whole weekend (Friday midnight to Sunday midnight). In addition to weekends, this option also works on public holidays and midnight to midnight too. It could be interesting if you have an electric car. You'll be able to recharge it at low cost, unlike what's available on the market.
To find out more: which suppliers offer special deals for electric vehicles?
Using the Ecowatt application
Ecowatt is a website and mobile application that gives you an electricity weather forecast. You'll be warned in the form of an alert if the electricity system is in orange, so you need to pay attention to your consumption, or if it's in red and power cuts are possible.
This ecowatt application will help you monitor and adapt your consumption, and above all, anticipate the recharging of your electric car.
To save on your bill and reduce your consumption, we recommend using a charging station during off-peak hours.
Want to go electric?
Beev offers multi-brand 100% electric vehicles at the best prices, as well as recharging solutions.
What's in it for companies?
As well as private customers, many businesses are also affected by rising electricity prices, and there are also tips on how to reduce your electricity bill.
In fact, on August 30, 2022, on the set of Quotidien, the Prime Minister, Elizabeth Borne, mentioned that businesses will be the most affected by gas and electricity cutsbeing the biggest consumers of energy in France.
Will there be power cuts and rationing measures this winter?
- Quotidien (@Qofficiel) August 30, 2022
Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne attempts to respond to rising concerns. #Quotidien pic.twitter.com/MtjS7vm5bE
Government aid for gas and electricity consumers
Businesses are also affected by these rising prices. To help them reduce their energy consumption, the government has decided to give them a helping hand by opening the gas and electricity" assistancean emergency and temporary aid. This aid, which takes the form of subsidies, will enable companies to cover gas and electricity costs.
To be eligible for this aid, you must meet the following conditions:
- have gas and electricity costs reach 3% of sales in 2021
- have experienced a doubling of the price of electricity and/or gas over the eligible period compared with average prices in 2021
Since July 4, 2022, these companies have been able to apply for this assistance:
- fill in a form that you will find in your professional area of the company's secure messaging system on impot.gouv.fr
- for application submission, the 2nd period (June, July and August) will be open from September 15, 2022 for a period of 45 days.
Tips for reducing electricity bills in the workplace
But how can businesses avoid these power and gas cuts? Fortunately, there are also tips for businesses.
Here are just a few examples:
- raise your employees' awareness As with private individuals, eco-gestures can be implemented in the workplace, such as switching off lights when you leave a room, switching off computers after use, and taking advantage of daylight rather than switching on office lights. In addition to raising awareness, this also strengthens your CSR.
- optimize the use of office tools For example, each employee can regularly clean up his or her mailbox by sorting the inbox, emptying the recycle garbage can and reducing the size of sent e-mails. By doing so, each employee reduces his or her environmental impact.
- adapt the temperature, avoid opening windows when air conditioning or heating is on; in winter, avoid overheating rooms. Ideally, rooms should be warmed up to between 19 and 21°C to work in good conditions.
In conclusion
As we've just seen, the government's aim is to make everyday life easier for everyone in France. But that's not enough to see an improvement on the bill. As the government reminds us, households must also be responsible in their use and consumption of electricity.
With the tips we've just listed, your wallet will thank you!
Do you know any other tips for dealing with rising prices? Let us know in the comments.
