MaPrimeRénov', the energy renovation support system, is the subject of strong criticism following a confidential report from the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF). Despite its success with more than 2 million households, this program is marred by numerous frauds and defects. Let’s take a closer look at the issues and consequences of this worrying situation.
A popular but insufficiently controlled device
MaPrimeRénov' has attracted many French people wanting to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. On the other hand, the IGF points to a glaring lack of control on this program which mobilizes more than two billion euros of public funds. In 2023, only eight people were responsible for monitoring the entire system, which led to a verification of only 3% of the 1.27 million files processed.
This situation has opened the door to numerous abuses. In the first half of 2024, field checks revealed alarming figures:
- 27% of non-compliant operations
- 21% fictitious transactions
These statistics highlight the scale of the problem and underline the urgency of an in-depth reform of the control system.
Fraud and scams: a well-established system
Scammers have developed sophisticated methods to take advantage of MaPrimeRénov'. Their mode of operation is as follows:
- Creation of ephemeral businesses
- Illegal collection of tax information
- Opening of accounts without consent of beneficiaries
- Submission of false files
- Resale to unscrupulous construction companies
The National Housing Agency (Anah) reported nearly 400 million euros in potential fraud to Tracfin, involving around 800 suspect companies. These figures do not take into account numerous defects and scams which are added to the picture: false RGE certifications, erroneous diagnoses, inflated invoices, or even poorly carried out insulation work.
Disappointing results and unexpected effects
Beyond fraud, the very effectiveness of the system is called into question. Some studies suggest that the real energy gain after work would be 50% lower than initial estimates. This observation raises questions about the relevance of energy performance diagnostics (EPD) and their ability to predict energy savings.
An unexpected psychological phenomenon has also been observed: after a thermal renovation, many households tend to relax their efforts and increase their energy consumption. This behavior, called the “rebound effect”, considerably reduces the expected benefits of renovation work.
| Issue | Impact |
|---|---|
| Fraud and poor workmanship | Financial loss for the State and beneficiaries |
| Overestimated energy gains | Actual savings lower than forecast |
| Rebound effect | Increase in consumption post-renovation |
The Economic Analysis Council highlighted that the gap between DPE forecasts and actual consumption was mainly due to occupant behavior. Households living in better-rated housing tend to monitor their consumption less, which is not taken into account in the initial calculations.
Faced with these observations, it appears urgent to rethink the MaPrimeRénov' system. A review of diagnostic methods, strengthening of controls and better awareness of beneficiaries seem necessary to achieve the objectives of reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, it is essential to explore other financial aid for changing the heating system, in order to diversify energy renovation options and optimize the effectiveness of public investments in this area.
