On Monday 10 June, the energy regulator announced an increase in gas prices, mainly due to higher distribution costs. After a period of stability, the average gas bill for millions of French people will rise by 11.7% in July compared with June, according to the Commission de Régulation de l’Energie (CRE). This increase is mainly due to higher prices and an increase in distribution tariffs

Paradoxically, while gas prices are ten times lower than at the peak of the energy crisis in the summer of 2022, many French people will see their bills rise.

The regulator puts things into perspective: despite an increase of 11.7% compared with June, the average price is still 3.5% lower than on 1 January 2024. The reference price will be €129.2 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in July, including VAT, compared with €115.7/MWh in June. In KWh terms, this corresponds to around 13 cents/KWh.

CRE estimates that the annual bill (including VAT) for a residential customer with a package indexed to this ‘benchmark price’ will be €1,184 in July, compared with €1,060 in June and €1,227 in January.

The rise is mainly due to the CRE’s decision in February to increase the gas transmission tariff, the ‘toll’ charged by GRDF to suppliers, for four years. This component, which accounts for around a third of the bill, is rising because maintenance costs are being spread over lower consumption.