Increases in energy prices, again....

[Bayleaf]

https://www.sudouest.fr/economie/energi ... 238706.php

It happens every year, so I guess we shouldn't be surprised. Hopefully, at least some will get a little help from the French Govt. as they try to thrash out how to deal with this. They really won't be able to clamp down on woodfires if people cannot afford to use their gas or electric much.

[Biloute]

The single European electricity market is stupid. Even our Minister of the Economy Bruno Lemaire understood this. Thanks to nuclear power, for years we had had the cheapest electricity in Europe, without CO2 emissions and guaranteeing our independence. By "solidarity", the single market prohibits EDF from charging lower prices than others. If the price of gas increases, the price of electricity from German gas power plants increases and EDF must therefore increase its prices, even when using nuclear power !!!
To know more : https://www.franceinter.fr/info/electri ... s-factures

[Hotrodder]

https://www.sudouest.fr/economie/energi ... 238706.php

It happens every year, so I guess we shouldn't be surprised. Hopefully, at least some will get a little help from the French Govt. as they try to thrash out how to deal with this. They really won't be able to clamp down on woodfires if people cannot afford to use their gas or electric much.

I couldn't quite pin down the exact content of the link with a translater but it sounds like there is going to be an extra €100 assistance for energy bills for those on low incomes. I use the existing help to reduce my electricity bill because my firewood supplier won't accept the Cheque Energie. Swings and roundabouts. Does the link imply we will be getting another help on top? If we don't have gas CH does that mean we won't get it? So many questions. And "clamping down on woodfires" would leave us in deep poo. We have no other source of heat. Electric fires are a joke and the fumes from portable room heaters bring on my breathing problems.

[Bayleaf]

Hotrodder, it implies that those 6 million who receive the Chéque Energie will qualify for an extra, one-off payment of a further 100€ - but it does look like it's just for gas customers. How do they know what energy suppliers you have I wonder?!

Also, they're looking to increase the SMIC by 35€/month next year. Obviously that will only benefit the employed, and may increase the RSA/Prime payments to those who qualify.

We invested in a battery powered stihl chainsaw at the beginning of this year (mostly to stop OH using the horrendous circular saw!). We're lucky enough to have our own wooded areas, so will just have to get out there and start chopping up any fallen stuff!! Alternatively, fashion any spare duvets into onesies .....

[Hotrodder]

Happiness is your own private woodland.

But it is certainly hard work.

[exile]

It's called a double warmer - once as you are cutting down and cutting it up and again when you burn it.

[hughnique]

Butane gas Super U 29th August 21.95€ 13 kg, last week same make Super U same bottle 27.95€, bit of a hike.

[Blaze]

Thanks to nuclear power, for years we had had the cheapest electricity in Europe, without CO2 emissions and guaranteeing our independence.

On the news tonight they said that French electricity was one of the cheapest in Europe thanks to nuclear power. Today however, many of the centrales are old and need expensive maintenance, which will only increase ...

BUT .... in all the talk about how cheap electricity is here, there is little mention of the huge taxes which make it more expensive that many other countries !!
An example of how electricity is taxed here :
https://prix-elec.com/tarifs/taxes

[Bayleaf]

Indeed. Sometimes the taxes and charges on our EDF bill have been more than the actual leccy used!

[Hotrodder]

Butane gas Super U 29th August 21.95€ 13 kg, last week same make Super U same bottle 27.95€, bit of a hike.

Bottled gas prices are all over the place. The lowest I have ever paid was about €28 and last winter it peaked at €36 for the same bottle. And they are a bugger to lift into the car to fetch one home.