HOMES that use gas for cooking and heating will not see a rise in their bills in the New Year, the Ecology and Energy Ministry has promised.

Despite a 1.5% increase in the cost of producing gas, the government has said it will be freezing the prices charged by GDF in the first quarter of 2010 at the current rate of €41.50 per megawatt hour.

The price of gas in France is regulated and can be revised every three months. Le Figaro says it was decided to avoid a price hike in the middle of winter, which would have been unpopular with customers.

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Photo:Teq