Despite the tariff shield and the allocation of exceptional energy checks, interventions for unpaid gas and electricity bills are up 10% in 2022, revealed this Thursday the energy mediator. In detail, the number of dry cuts fell over one year: 157,000 against 254,000 in 2021.
Despite the implementation of the tariff shield which caps the increase in regulated gas and electricity tariffs, households lost an average of 720 euros in purchasing power between January 2021 and June 2022 with the surge in energy prices , according to an INSEE study published last December.
In this context, the figures published this Thursday by the energy mediator are not a surprise: interventions for unpaid energy bills are up 10% in 2022, for a total of 863,000. Indeed, 27% of consumers say they had difficulty paying their expenses last year, i.e. 7 points more than in 2020. And this despite the distribution exceptional energy checks for 10million households, and the implementation of the tariff shield.
The call does not cut
And if the year 2022 records for the first time a drop in electricity cuts, these are offset by an increase in power reductions, which are less penalizing for the consumers concerned: 157,000 cuts have thus been recorded, against 254,000 in 2021, specifies the services of the energy mediator.
Insufficient for the mediator, Olivier Challan Belval, who calls for even better consumer protection. Electricity is a ‘necessity product’, essential to meet the essential needs of daily life. The current energy crisis raises questions about the protection systems for the most fragile, he continues in a press release published on Thursday.
Clearly, total cuts should be banned. Today, they can intervene after 1 3 months of non-payment according to the suppliers. Since 2021, EDF no longer cuts service completely and is content to reduce power. This reduction limits the use of electricity to a power of 1 kVA, which allows you to get light, operate a refrigerator and charge your telephone.
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On the side of alternative suppliers, the purchasing power law of August 2022 provides that in the event of non-payment of electricity billssuppliers may only interrupt the supply of electricity after a power reduction period of at least 1 month.
Something new for energy check recipients
A decree establishes, for households benefiting from the energy check or the housing solidarity fund, a minimum period of 60 days of power reduction up to 1 kVA in the event of non-payment, provided that their home is equipped with a Linky-type smart meter.
This change will take effect from April 1, 2023.
What is the deadline for paying an invoice?
In theory, you have 14 days following the date of issue of the invoice to pay. In case of delay, you benefit from an additional period of 15 days formalized by a follow-up letter. At the second letter, time is running out and don’t hesitate to take the lead. If you are having difficulty paying your bills, consider asking the supplier to spread them out to limit their burden on your finances.
In addition, you may also have the option of receive financial assistance from the Housing Solidarity Fund (FSL)allocated according to your resources and can be combined with most social aid such as housing allowance (APL).
Increase in EDF prices, regulated tariff abolished… Advice from the mediator to lighten your bill