The gas supplier Engie is warning clients that previous energy bills relating to regulated tariff contracts (tarifs règlementés) that are stored online by it will no longer be available from September 30.
In the Espace Client (personal login area) of the Engie website, you can find online versions of bills, which you can download onto your computer, smartphone or tablet, or print out.
The firm has said, however, that after September 30, only bills related to new gaz passerelle or non-regulated tariffs will be available there. Physical versions of bills will continue to be sent.
“Your Gaz Passerelle Customer Centre allows you to find all the duplicate invoices for your new contract,” Engie says in an email to clients.
“Until 30 September 2023, you can also find duplicate invoices for your old regulated-rate natural gas contract, after which they will no longer be available.
“In order to keep them, we invite you to download them without delay,” it adds.
In July all regulated gas tariff contracts stopped, with clients needing to switch over to a fluctuating non-regulated tariff.
Engie clients who had not yet made the switch before this date were placed onto a gaz passerelle or ‘bridge’ contract until they do so.
It is advised to have copies – physical if possible, if not digital – of all previous bills, payslips, and important documents in France as they can be asked for in many administrative situations.
If you are changing energy suppliers, your new provider may also ask you for old bills, and they can also be used as proof of address in places like banks.
How long should I keep the bills for?
The service public advice site recommends keeping energy bills for five years.
This is the length of time you have to contest a claim over the cost of either a gas or electricity bill.
The energy company itself has two years to request a payment from the date they sent the bill but no longer.
After five years, the bills could still be of use as evidence in a tribunal, for example but you will no longer be able to contest them.
If you do choose to get rid of your bills, you are advised to shred them first.
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