GDF wants 9% gas bill rise in April

GDF wants to raise gas prices by 9% in April to account for the growing cost of production, it has emerged.

According to Le Figaro, the gas supplier wants to hike tariffs from €41.50 per megawatt hour to almost €45.50.

The price of gas in France is regulated and can be revised every three months.

There was no rise at the last revision date, January 1. GDF needs to make a formal request by March 11 for it to be passed in time for April 1.

Until now, the Economy Ministry has had the final say on whether to approve a change in tariffs. However it has now delegated its responsibilities to the government's energy regulation committee, CRE, which until now only had a consultative role.

Le Figaro says that although the 9% rise is reasonable - it is based on an agreed formula - the committee might block the rise to avoid a fallout with voters in the run-up to the regional elections in mid-March.

An energy industry source told the paper: "What happens over the next few days will be revealing. We'll find out whether or not the government still has any influence on prices."