By Lucie Deschamps
Published on
November 15, 2024
The Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has just published the benchmark sales price of natural gas for December 2024. This crucial information directly impacts residential consumers and reflects the evolution of the gas market in France.
Do you want to save energy?
Our experts advise you for free!
Understanding the gas benchmark price and its importance
THE gas sales benchmark prices are key indicators established monthly by the CRE. It serves as a reference for residential consumers, allowing them to compare supplier offers with a reliable benchmark. This price is calculated taking into account the supply costs on wholesale markets, non-supply costs include costs related to the transportation, storage and distribution of natural gas on the network as well as commercial costs of suppliers.
The new gas benchmark price for December 2024
The CRE has published the following grid for December 2024:
| Category | Cooking/Hot Water | Heating |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription including tax (€/year) | 114,30 | 277,43 |
| Average price including tax (€/year) | 0,14135 | 0,11237 |
| Low price range including tax (€/year) | 0,13762 | 0,10352 |
| Price upper range including tax (€/year) | 0,14941 | 0,13034 |
The average benchmark price for all consumers combined amounts to 98.50 €/MWh HT, suspended 138.95 €/MWh.
Evolution of the gas sales price in October, November and December 2024
The CRE updates the benchmark gas sales price (PRVG) each month and publishes it for this purpose and serves as a reference base for supplier pricing. Here are the average gas sales benchmark prices for the last 3 months:
- October 1, 2024: €137.20 including tax
- 1st November 2024: €135.90 VAT
- December 1, 2024: €138.95 incl. VAT
In December, the benchmark sales price rose again to reach 138,95 €/MWh including tax for all consumers, an increase of 2,24% or from 3,05 € compared to November whose benchmark sales price was 135,90€.
Factors influencing monthly variations in the benchmark price
Monthly fluctuations in the benchmark gas price are influenced by various factors related to the energy market and overall economic conditions. Among the most determining elements, we can cite:
- Price variations in international wholesale markets
- Geopolitical conditions affecting the production and supply of natural gas
- Gas stock levels a Europe
- Seasonal demandparticularly high in winter
- Energy and environmental policies
Lincrease noted for December 2024 could be attributed to a combination of these factors, with probably inmarked influence of winter demand and potential tensions on supply.
Impact of new gas prices on household bills
The increase in the benchmark gas price in December 2024 marks a turning point compared to the decline observed in November, which could result in a increased bills for residential consumers. This development highlights the importance of remaining vigilant in the face of fluctuations in the energy market. THE gas price remain volatile and are influenced by multiple external factors, making long-term forecasts difficult. The general trend recorded during 2024 showed significant variations, as illustrated by the evolution of benchmark prices in recent months. This increase at the end of the year confirms the forecasts of experts who anticipate an increase in prices for winter 2024-2025.
The evolution of the gas benchmark price
Evolution of the average gas benchmark price in euros. Source: CRE.
Tips for optimizing your gas consumption
In this context, it is crucial for consumers to carefully monitor price developments and consider strategies for optimizing their energy consumption to mitigate the impact of these variations on their budget.
Here are effective strategies for controlling energy consumption:
• Improve the thermal insulation of the home to reduce heat loss and heating bills
• Regularly maintain equipment, particularly the boiler, to maintain their optimal efficiency
• Implement intelligent heating management with programmable thermostats to adjust the temperature according to actual needs
• Adopt thrifty behaviors daily
• Opt for high energy efficiency models when renewing devices
The combination of these actions can lead to a significant reduction in energy consumption, allowing households to better control their energy budget in a context of fluctuating prices. Furthermore, it is crucial for consumers to remain vigilant and regularly compare offers from different gas suppliers.
Related News :