Electricity bills rise by €35-€50

ELECTRICITY bills are to rise between €35 and €50 this year as the government has agreed a 5% rise from August – to be followed in August 2014 by another 5% increase.

The rises are the largest for 10 years but are still less than those recommended by the energy regulator Commission de Régulation de l'Energie, which had said that a rise of between 6.8% and 9.6% was needed from August 1, plus 7.6% extra to cover for too-low rises agreed by the previous government.

New Ecology and Energy Minister Philippe Martin announced the rises, saying: “The government has decided to protect household spending power as much as possible by smoothing out over several years the rises needed to cover the EDF’s costs, as provided for by the law.”

Customers on the low-usage 3 kVa and 6kVa tariffs will see a reduction in costs, but the minister did not detail the change.

Anyone using mains electricity to provide all their heating needs will be hardest hit by the change, which will see their bills rise by up to €50.

EDF, which is state-controlled, faces increased spending to boost safety standards at its nuclear power stations.
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