Reduce your energy bills in France

Consumer champion Que Choisir and independent energy mediation service at www.energie-info.fr have non-commercial price comparative sites for electricity and gas.

It is worth taking time to study the details of each offer and though there are fewer savings to be had from electricity at present you could cut €100 off your gas bill. You can change supplier with no cancellation charge at any time and the new supplier must do the paperwork to terminate your previous contract.

Que Choisir says there is no need to fear the smaller energy suppliers as they have the same controls as for EDF and Enedis, but to study the contracts carefully. They advise fixed-price contracts to avoid market fluctuations.

Leading oil supplier fioulmarket.fr warns that 2019 tax increases will add €80 to a 2,000-litre oil delivery and that 42% of your bill will go in taxes, so it is best to buy before the tax rise in January.

You can follow market trends by looking at oil sites www.fioulmoinscher.fr, www.fioulmarket.fr and www.fioulreduc.com which indicate whether prices are rising or falling.

Que Choisir has set up a group purchase scheme which negotiates a discount price from suppliers, and says it can save €50 on each order, including the €5 join up fee. www.choisirsonfioul.fr

If you do decide to change from oil, the government is offering income-related grants of up to €3,000 to help you change to renewable energy methods. Log on to www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/coup-pouce-economies-denergie-2018-2020

Tips from www.energie-info.fr include cutting consumption by 7% by lowering the temperature by 1°C, leaving shutters and curtains closed if you go out for the day, purging radiators regularly and having your boiler checked each year to make it last longer and operate efficiently.