PARIS, June 1 (Reuters) – The Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) on Wednesday recommended that the French government increase the volumes of nuclear power that EDF EDF.PA must sell to its competitors next year in order to limit the rise in prices.
CRE therefore recommends setting this share of volumes to be sold at 130 TWh (terawatt-hour), at 49.50 euros per MWh, in 2023 against 120 TWH this year, at the price of 42 euros per MWh for 100 TWh and 46.20 for the additional 20 TWh.
To limit the increase in regulated electricity tariffs to 4% on February 1, the government increased from 100 to 120 TWh the volumes that EDF must sell at a reduced price under the Arenh (regulated access to historical nuclear electricity), a measure that strongly penalizes the results of the group, which is also faced with low availability of its power plants due to corrosion problems.
The Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, indicated on Monday that no catch-up on consumer bills would take place next year after the freezing of gas prices and the capping of those of electricity.
In the context of the war in Ukraine which is resulting in soaring energy prices, he also indicated that the executive wanted to continue to protect the French against the rise in electricity in 2023.
(Report Benjamin Mallet, written by Matthieu Protard, edited by Jean-Michel Bélot)