Tenants of HLM buildings will soon be able to reduce their heating bill by using the energy check, an operation which was not possible until now, announced Wednesday, December 6, the Minister of Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher.
Questioned by the deputy and national secretary of the Communist Party, Fabien Roussel, the minister described“aberration” the fact that HLM residents can use this annual check, which can reach nearly 280 euros, to pay for their electricity “but not for [payer] their heating costs ».
To end this situation “unacceptable”,Mme Pannier-Runacher claimed to have made an amendment to the 2024 finance bill on Monday, at the request of Matignon: “We will carry (…) until the end the fact that this energy check can allow residents of HLM to reduce their energy bill through a reduction in their charges”assured the minister during the question session to the government. “A million households are affected” by this anomaly, according to Mr. Roussel.
5.8 million households affected
This check, the amount of which varies between 48 and 277 euros, concerns some 5.8 million households; it is sent automatically by mail to the 20% most modest households. Distributed since 2018, the energy check is paid once a year, in the spring. Added, at the end of 2022, was an exceptional check of 100 to 200 euros for 12 million households.
In addition, and also subject to resource conditions, a fuel check of 100 to 200 euros, aid of 50 to 200 euros for those who heat with wood, and a fuel allowance of 100 euros for low-income workers have also been announced since the end of 2022.
The government has also limited the increase in electricity sale prices to 15% in 2023, after 4% in 2022. If the price shield for electricity and gas, discounts at the pump or even the energy check have made it possible France to post the lowest inflation rate in the euro zone last year, these measures represent a net cost of nearly 43 billion euros over two years.