“There is room for competition with regulated prices”, assures the president of the Energy Regulatory Commission

Emmanuelle Wargon says she is “relatively confident” about maintaining regulated prices even if she is “waiting for the government's position”.

“There is room for competition with regulated prices” electricity, assures on franceinfo, Wednesday November 20, Emmanuelle Wargon, president of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), which has just published a report on this subject. It is in favor of maintaining regulated prices, contrary to the Competition Authority which recommends that the government abandon them. “Our findings are quite similar, it’s just that we don’t put the same importance on certain advantages and disadvantages”underlines Emmanuelle Wargon.

“Regulated prices smooth out the bill since the price of electricity is supplied over a period of two years”recalls the former Minister Delegate in charge of Housing. “When prices are high, regulated prices are lower, because they have earned lower prices from the previous period and when prices fall, regulated prices fall a little less quickly”explains Emmanuelle Wargon. This system makes it possible to avoid “jumps” on consumer bills, “they pay on average the market price, but much more spread out than with offers which reflect the price at a given moment”she explains.

According to the president of the CRE, without regulated prices, “suppliers would not make these offers smoothed over time, so these prices play a role that is not easily replaceable”. She specifies that the CRE is “for competition in the electricity market like the Competition Authority” and she wants “improve this competition while keeping these prices regulated”. Emmanuelle Wargon says to herself “relatively confident” regarding the maintenance of regulated prices even if it “waiting for the government’s position”.