“The tariff shield is over, France can no longer afford it,” assures Olga Givernet

“Energy taxation must return to a normal level,” says Olga Givernet, Minister Delegate for Energy. Initially planned for December 2023, the end of the tariff shield on electricity prices will take effect from February 1, 2025. A choice assumed by the government which highlights the budgetary situation to explain its choice. At the same time, the government is defending an increase in taxes on electricity. An unpopular measure, strongly criticized in the National Assembly, which must nevertheless be compensated by a drop in energy prices.

Increase in taxes but decrease in bills

“I let Matignon and Bercy make the budgetary choices,” declares Olga Givernet while the increase in the electricity tax is expected to bring in 3 billion euros. “The tariff shield is over, France can no longer afford it,” adds the minister. The only drawback is that article 7 of the finance bill which introduced the increase in the electricity tax was deleted by the deputies.

Despite opposition from parliamentarians, the delegate minister responsible for energy continues to defend the government's project and puts forward a 9% reduction in the electricity bill. “The bill will go down,” insists Olga Givernet. To guarantee this 9% reduction, the minister responsible for energy is defending a tax including a variable part. “The reduction in energy costs must be effective for all French people,” continues Olga Givernet.

“For the moment, what we expect is for our reactors to operate at full capacity”

While the minister repeats that electricity prices must fall, they remain dependent on external variables. In 2023, the maintenance of nuclear reactors contributed to inflating electricity prices. On the question of supply, Olga Givernet wants to be reassuring: “For the moment, what we expect is that our reactors will operate at full capacity, there is no problem, no issue. » At the same time, the delegate minister emphasizes the government's desire to strengthen the electricity network to secure supplies. Finally, Olga Givernet makes French production a guarantee of price control, after the increase in electricity prices linked to the war in Ukraine. “The more we produce clean energy in France, the more we will have control over prices,” assures Olga Givernet.