Gas prices in France to rise 6.6% from November 1: six million households affected

Some six million households in France are set to see their monthly gas prices increase by an average of 6.6% from November 1. 

The rise will affect around 60% of residential gas subscribers, whose contracts are indexed to the Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE)'s reference price.

The CRE estimated that households with contracts indexed to its reference price will pay an average of €12 more on their November bill (€194.90 per megawatt-hour (MWh)), including VAT, compared to the previous month (€182.88/MWh).

The price of gas per kilowatt hour (kWh) for cooking and hot water is expected to rise by 6.7%, while the price for heating is expected to rise by 8.3%, according to estimations by comparison site Hello Watt, and confirmed by the CRE.

This comes after prices rose by 5.6% on average in September and 6.3% in October.

“This rise in prices in November is still linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and to historically low European gas stocks, with a fill rate of 72.76% on October 6, 2026 - well below the 90% threshold target for early November,” said Hello Watt.

Note that households with fixed-price gas contracts will not be affected. Around 40% of residential gas customers had fixed-price contracts at the end of 2025, according to the CRE. 

A rising trend

This year’s average annual bill for a gas-heated household (using 13,000 kWh/year) has risen from €1,669 in January to €2,254 in October. For comparison, the average annual gas bill in 2020 came in at €881, stated Hello Watt. 

“Provided the situation remains more or less stable between now and the end of the year… the annual bill for 2026 could be, on average, 11% higher than the annual bill for 2025 as prices at the start of the year were relatively low,” said the CRE.

Gas prices initially increased due to the 2021–2022 energy crisis, with further increases part of a longer-term trend after the US and Israel's conflict with Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted oil and gas shipments from the Middle East.

Some communes turn to group buying 

Households affected by the price increases can take action to help limit the impact on their bills. 

One example of this is group buying (achat groupé) schemes. Households can sign up free of charge via an intermediary to hopefully benefit from a grouped reduction in their energy bills.

The intermediary then negotiates with companies on behalf of a large number of potential customers. 

Officials in Aillevillers-et-Lyaumont (Haute-Saône) have decided to launch a group buying scheme for local residents via the platform Achetons Groupe, which will be open until October 31. 

As a result, those customers should be offered a lower rate than that of an individual customer, possibly generating savings of €250 on average on a household’s annual energy bill.

Other ways to help lower bills

Households can try to reduce individual gas consumption where possible by lowering gas heating, using less hot water when washing or showering and avoiding unnecessary use of a gas cooker.

Hello Watt recommended comparing offers from different energy suppliers - focusing in particular on fixed-price contracts lasting one to three years, which could help protect against future price rises. 

France's regulated gas tariffs ended in 2023, so households are free to compare offers from different suppliers.

Switching to a different heating system, such as a heat pump, can also help reduce gas consumption - however installation can be expensive. 

Electricity prices should not rise this winter 

The French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, said the government was committed to making sure electricity prices will not rise this winter, and the government will take “the necessary decisions to ensure this.”

“I will return to this matter soon,” he said, hinting that further policies are on the way. 

“I am also asking [state electricity supplier] EDF to mobilise its generation capacity to the fullest extent, while adhering to safety requirements,” he added.

He did not comment on gas prices, however.