The 80% of households with regulated rates will still be able to benefit from a reduction in their electricity bills “of around 10%”, starting next year, according to Laurent Saint-Martin.
Towards a less significant drop than expected in electricity prices at the start of 2025 for certain households? In a budgetary context that is tense to say the least, there are more and more options for finding new money to complete the 2025 finance bill. Among these is a particularly unpopular idea concerning household energy bills.
Invited on the Franceinfo set this Tuesday morning, the Minister responsible for Public Accounts, Laurent Saint-Martin, confirmed that the executive was working on the “end of protective shields” implemented during the energy crisis. At the time, the government had reduced to a minimum the Internal Final Electricity Consumption Tax (TICFE), which weighs on household bills. This shield, which limited the surge in prices for taxpayers, “cost all French people billions, billions and billions of euros”argued Laurent Saint-Martin. Now, while inflation has fallen below 2% again and energy prices are at their lowest, Bercy therefore wishes to reverse this modification, with “a requirement” : “that all our fellow citizens at regulated rates can benefit from a reduction in the bill despite the withdrawal of the energy shield” in the coming months.
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A “demanding debate” in Parliament
Recalling that «80%» households were at the regulated rate, the minister indicated that they would still benefit from a reduction in their electricity bills “around 10%”starting next year, despite the end of the energy shield. However, he did not put forward a precise figure on the increase in taxes on electricity, preferring to leave “the parliamentary debate” move forward on this subject. “We can still be responsible in terms of public finances, and ensure that the purchasing power of our fellow citizens improves”assured Laurent Saint-Martin, wishing to have “a demanding debate” on the subject in Parliament.
As a reminder, the TICFE applies to all consumers, but those with regulated tariffs will be able to benefit from the drop in electricity prices on wholesale markets. Increasing the tax beyond the pre-energy crisis level will therefore be less sensitive for them, even if it will reduce the reduction in electricity prices promised by Bruno Le Maire last June. The previous government then promised a future reduction in the electricity bill, “10 to 15%”pour “all French people”starting in February 2025. “This is the commitment I am making this morning […]. Because we have restarted nuclear power. (…) Because we invested in renewables”welcomed the Minister of Economy and Finance.
This avenue could allow the government to recover a few billion euros – of the order of four to five billion euros, according to our colleagues from Le Parisien. The minister did not put forward a figure, for his part, however repeatedly emphasizing the urgent need to regain financial room for maneuver as quickly as possible. It remains to be seen how this explosive subject will be received by consumers, while the increase in energy taxes, in the past, has already led to significant social mobilizations such as “yellow vests”in 2018.
