With an average increase of 15% in regulated electricity and gas prices, French energy bills will increase in 2023. But according to studies carried out by several start-ups including Hello Watt, it is possible to contain the takes off by acting on heating, which accounts for more than 60% of a household’s consumption.
From electricity to gas and fuel, for a year and a half now, energy prices have been rising. If the government is trying through bonuses and the tariff shield to contain the surge in bills (+15% minimum since January 2023), these mechanisms are not eternal. Controlling consumption and monitoring it precisely on a daily basis is the only effective method over the long term, explains MoneyVox Sylvain le Falher, co-founder of Hello Watt, which offers this consumption control and monitoring service via a mobile application.
But the key to everything is the heating which represents two-thirds of the bill for accommodation that costs 250 euros per month in energy, he explains based on the average amount spent by his customers. According to the government agency Ademe, heating represents precisely 62% of a household’s energy consumption, ahead of appliances (20%), hot water (11%) and cooking (7%).
The question of heating is therefore central. As part of the energy sobriety plan, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has urged French households to take matters into their own hands. In October, 7 out of 10 French people (70%) declared to Ifop be prepared to apply the 19C rule within their accommodation and reduce the bill by 7%.
life-saving behaviors in the face of energy price increases in January for gas and in February for electricity since lowering the temperature of the water heater between 55 and 60C saves 20% on the annual cost of hot water, and installing a thermostat reduces the heating bill by 15%.
Bill increases of 400 euros
The Lite start-up estimated on the basis of 35,000 contracts at EDF’s regulated tariff that the increase in electricity prices (TRV) had been on average 5.4%, with peaks of 11% in 2023. 2023, according to their calculations, the average increase will be precisely 15.74% in 2023, i.e. 184 euros more per year, on average, with strong disparities. On the basis of an average consumption of 4.7 megawatt hours, the average amount of the electricity bill of a household at Blue Tariff increases on February 1, 2023 from 966 to 1112 euros including tax per year, explains EDF.
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The increase in base option will be 94 euros for the year, or 15.3% more, against 205 euros more (+15.2% over one year) for contracts in peak hours-off-peak hours. According to EDF, the real winners are the 270,000 contractors of the Tempo offer, with a limited increase of 53 euros over the year, ie +4%.
A drop in consumption of more than 13%
According to Hello Watt and its 170,000 active users, for a 100 m2 house, electric heater team and who paid between 2,500 and 2,600 euros for electricity in 2022, the annual bill rises in 2023 to almost 3,000 euros, an increase of more than 400 euros! For an apartment that had an annual electricity bill of 1650 euros in 2022, the latter passes 1930euros, or 280euros more. Finally, in the case of low consumption (approximately 2400 kWh), a bill of 550 euros in 2022 rises to 640 euros in 2023, i.e. 80 euros more. Without the government tariff shield which limits the increase to 15% for TRVs, there would have been an increase of more than 400 euros.
With the tools available to consumers, associated with co-gestures, it is therefore possible to contain one’s bill. Thanks to Linky and Gazpar meters, HelloWatt users thus achieve a 13.5% drop in their electricity consumption And 16.2% for gas by lowering the temperature by two degrees compared to their previous habits.