Rising energy prices are already worrying ski resorts

Lwill ski resorts withstand the winter? Energy prices have been soaring in recent months, in particular due to the shutdown of part of the French nuclear fleet and the war in Ukraine. Invited on the set of BFM DICI, the mayor of Orres, in the Hautes-Alpes, ensures that the prices have been multiplied by 13, which corresponds to an increase of three million euros. It is not sure to be able to spend such a sum.

“Without heavy aid, it’s the death of our mountain territories”, fears Pierre Vollaire. “We are leaving previous contracts, where we paid 58.50 euros per megawatt hour. […] That’s about six cents per kilowatt hour. The proposal we have today is 800 euros per megawatt hour,” he explains. According to him, this increase is equivalent to “three million [d’euros] additional charges. […] It’s impossible to pay for that”.

READ ALSOWill there be electricity at Christmas?

The arrival of skiers during the winter season requires a lot of energy resources, especially electricity. The elected official sees no other way out than government aid. A meeting with the office of the Minister of the Economy is already planned. During this meeting, organized on September 6, he wishes to “explain that we cannot, even if we reduce our consumption, […] spending three million euros in additional charges this year”. The state would consider covering 30% of the costs, according to him, but “here, we are asking for at least 50%. We will not be able to do otherwise”.