these solutions to limit the explosion of your electricity and gas bill

A specific tariff shield for buildings with collective heating has been put in place by the government to avoid the explosion of bills. And there are other solutions to limit the costs, in particular the individualization of the heating.

In the heart of winter, condominiums suffered the full force of energy costs. In Pantin, in the first ring around Paris, the manager of a condominium explains European 1 to have received an invoice of 9000euros per month, for the whole of the building. what’s going to do 180euros for small two-pieces280euros for the three rooms and 400euros for the four rooms.

In Strasbourg, it is hardly better: Alain, president of the trade union council of a small joint ownership heated with collective gas, tells France 3 Alsace that the bill went up last November from 10,000 to 100,000 euros. We had a fixed price contract of 20 euros per mgawatt hour. And there, with the prices exploding, the new contract is 172 euros, he explains.

Condominiums excluded from regulated rates

Massive increases linked to the signing of an energy contract whose prices fluctuate according to market trends. A situation which concerns 4.9 million apartments with collective heating, including 2 million in HLM. Because the inhabitants of the buildings where the heating is collective – with gas like electricity – are not protected by the tariff regulation of sale (TRV).

Even if it increases at the start of the year, the increase remains capped at 15%. TRVs have t deleted since December 31, 2014 for condominiums consuming more than 200,000 kWh of gas per year and since 1 January 2016 for electricity TRVsif the maximum subscribed power was greater than 36 kVA.

A specific tariff shield for collective housing

In 2022, to compensate for this inequality between individuals with individual heating and those with a collective contract, a decree validated aid paid for occupants of condominiums and social residences heated with collective gas. To obtain it, the people concerned did not have to take any steps since it was the co-ownership trustees and the social landlords who were contacted by the suppliers and who had to pass it on to their customers’ invoices.

For winter 2023, a protective device has been put in place. The rise in gas prices will be limited to 15% in 2023, explains the Minister of Ecologyvia the compensation mechanism set up in 2022.

Moreover, apartment buildings, heated by electricity will also be protected in 2023 by the tariff shield which limits the increase in TRV prices to 15%. These dwellings represent 1 to 2% of the French collective housing stock. The measure is applicable to 100% of the energy bill: heating of housing and common areas.

Soon a guaranteed rate?

As part of collective housing shields, state aid is proportional to the energy consumed and applies to the entire energy consumption of the beneficiaries. On the other hand, it does not necessarily compensate for the entire difference between the beneficiary’s invoice and the level of an offer at the TRV, however specifies the government.

Olivier Klein, the Minister of Housing indicated at the beginning of January that work is currently being carried out with the energy specialists for the condominiums or the lessors who have taken out too expensive electricity or gas subscriptions. In this context, the government is considering a guaranteed tariff like the one decided for VSEs. This would thus make it possible to further compensate for the contracts signed in recent months at very high prices.

Develop the individualization of heating costs

Beyond the measures put in place for condominiums, the trustees also point out that co-gestures are effective in limiting your bill:

• Install a thermostat reduces the heating rating by 15%.
• Reduce heating temperature one degree reduces the bill by 7%.
• Use power strips switch to turn off your standby appliances will save you up to 10% of your annual electricity costs.
• Close your shutters every night reduces heating consumption by up to 5% per year.
• Lower the temperature of the water heater between 55 and 60C saves 20% on the annual cost of hot water.

Since the Elan law, brought in 2018 by the Minister for Territorial Cohesion, Jacques Mzard, and the Secretary of State, Julien Denormandie, it is also possible – even advised – to proceed the individualization of heating costs. In this organization, each individual pays his share and participates up to 30% in collective energy costs (common areas, lift). According to the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (Ademe), this solution is the most efficient since the energy bill average drop of 15% for each occupant. According to the same source, only a third of the buildings have taken the plunge…