The benchmark price of gas
“Since July 1, 2023, we no longer have a regulated gas price, we have a benchmark offer published by the Energy Regulatory Commission which gives the benchmark level of the gas price if we had kept the regulated prices. Many gas suppliers base their prices on this benchmark offer. This benchmark price is a compass for suppliers, but also for consumers so that they can be sure that the price they pay is not disconnected from what the regulated rate would have been.”
How is this benchmark price set?
“He has three components : the taxes decided by the State, the gas network And the gas molecule (its price is fixed on the market price for the current month).”
Why does the benchmark price increase in May?
“The component that increases this month is the price of the gas molecule. In recent months on the markets the price of gas has fallen because gas supplies have been secured with liquefied natural gas which comes from the United States rather than Russia. And recently with what is happening in the Middle East, we have had a slight rise in gas prices on the market and this is what is leading to this 1.4% increase in the benchmark gas supply this year. this month.“
Will consumer bills increase?
“There is consumers with a fixed price offer who will not see an increase on their gas bill. But consumers who have an indexed offeras can be the benchmark offer, they see price variations every month market on their invoice.
In July, there will be an increase in network prices. The networks are a fixed infrastructure so the less gas circulating in the networks (which is the case at the moment since consumption has fallen significantly) the more it costs per unit per customer because we still have to amortize all this infrastructure that costs the same whether we consume it or not. And PFor network components, everyone sees it on their invoice, it’s like taxes, no one escapes it.“
