The thaw begins. But the cold snap which resulted in peak consumption of gas and electricity in France may weigh heavily on household budgets. It has forced many households to use "whatever means" to heat, which will probably burn their energy bills, according to Abbé Pierre Foundation. "The number of households in fuel poverty continues to grow with its share of unpaid", warns the National Association of CLCV consumers. Fuel poverty affects 3.8 million households in France, nearly 9 million people, according to INSEE. These households spend at least 10% of their income to their expenditure on gas and electricity.
"The bills are calculated on an annual basis, it is too early to assess the impact of the cold wave," does one judge at GDF Suez. For the operator of gas, the effect of "cold" likely to be limited. "The winter was very mild until recent weeks and the year 2011 was one of the warmest in history." Moreover, "people who are really in trouble are careful to their consumption, "says EDF, which has nevertheless established a hotline * to allow the poor to report their difficulties.
Educate consumers, rather than cut power
According to EDF, "the best way to fight against the rise in unpaid bills is to detect the most vulnerable households upstream". A task that 5500 counselors are trained operator. "When they find one-off payment problems, they propose to rehabilitate the electricity supply to the lifestyle of the households concerned. They also give them advice so they use more efficiently, for example, paying attention to peak and peak hours. "A strategy that has proven, according to EDF. "In May 2011, we operated under 100,000 for unpaid cuts over one year. These cuts were divided by seven to 15 years. "A similar education program was implemented at GDF Suez, in which the group has invested 3 million euros for 2010-2013.
For CLVC, these measures are not sufficient. The association calls for a "permanent ban" cuts gas and electricity, a "vital service". "In case of default in bad faith, the legal effect is sufficient to enforce payment of bills," she argues. In response, EDF and GDF Suez reminder that the winter break – November 1 to March 15 – applies to power outages and gas for the beneficiaries of the Solidarity Fund for Housing (FSL), or 200,000 customers of EDF and GDF Suez to 140,000. As a GDF Suez has decided "to extend to all its clients receiving social assistance," regarding 400,000 customers, while EDF has decided to extend this period of suspension cuts to April 1.
Automated social tariffs from 1 January 2012
GDF Suez has "decided to apply from 1 January 2012 to automate access to social tariffs of gas and this in anticipation of future regulations," says the operator. This statement comes as associations were surprised that the implementing decree has still not published in early February. The Energy Minister, Eric Besson, replied that this could be suitable for automation invoices relevant consumers from 1 January 2012. "This measure will benefit 500,000 additional households, or 800,000 households in total. Their annual natural gas bill go down and 22 to 156 euros depending on their consumption, "calculates GDF Suez. For its part, EDF estimates that 1.3 million households will benefit from this price for essential electricity, against 650,000 today.
* In an emergency, the EDF customers can report their problems 24h/24 and 7/7 by calling freephone 0800 65 03 09. For customers of GDF Suez, two green numbers: 0800106168 (toll free solidarity) and 0800333124 (toll free social tariff).
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