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Are French electricity bills set to increase in August?
Increased usage charges will affect bills, but changes elsewhere may lessen impact
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France gas prices: all contracts to increase in July
Millions of households on variable-rate gas deals face the biggest rise as France's benchmark gas price increases.
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French ‘super off-peak’ contracts offer up to 60% discount on electricity
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Power-hungry vacuum cleaners banned
New vacuum cleaners of more than 900W and noisier than 80decibels are no longer allowed in France in a move to cut energy wastage.
Officials say that across the EU vacuums use twice as much power per year as the French train network.
A previous ban limiting vacuums to 1,600W in 2014 has been credited with improving efficiency and cleaning performance. Tests by the consumer group 60 Millions de Consommateurs found 900W machines cleaned as well as the larger and noisier ones.
The ban, in force across the EU, also limits dust emissions to 1% and says motors must have a minimum 500 hours of life.
