Gas price rise set at 5.2%

GAS prices are rising 5.2 per cent from April 1 in a much-heralded move that means costs have risen 21 per cent over the past year and seen household bills go up by €200.

It comes a week after the news that electricity prices will rise five per cent from July.

Final details of the gas increase, first revealed by energy minister Eric Besson at the beginning of this month, were given by the Commission de Régulation de l'Energie yesterday. The CRE had met on Thursday to agree a change, but waited until after Sunday’s cantonal elections to announce it.

The increase came after a request by GDF Suez and means the average price by kilowatt-hour will go up by €0.245.

GDF Suez bases its prices on the cost of buying in gas from Norway, Algeria and Russia, but consumer group UFC-Que Choisir has protested that the price does not reflect the real cost.

Low-income households can get a reduction in prices; Mr Besson said that, this year, the discount would rise from €118 to €142 for a household of four.

See also: Gas, electricity bills set to soar