Energy prices rise could be reviewed

Gas up 5% in its third rise of the year while electricity up 2%

The price of gas will rise 5% as GDF Suez announces its third price rise of the year.

Since January the cost of gas for the average consumer has risen 15.2%.

The government, which sets the prices, has put the rise down to the rising cost of petrol and the general rising price of gas.

Only 10% of the gas GDF Suez’s sells in France is its own production – the rest it buys from countries including Russia, Algeria and Norway.

The Finance Ministry said the rise mirrored ‘the exact rise in cost of materials’ since the last price increase.

The bill for medium and large businesses should rise 6%-8%.

Households will see a rise of 2% on their electricity bills following a promise by EDF Director General Pierre Gadonneix that it would not be higher than inflation.

Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said that the rises may be reviewed in the autumn.
Photo:Teq