Gas prices jumped 7,4% on July 1st for 6 million French households

Six million French households will see their gas bills rise on July 1st. The Energy Regulatory Commission has announced a 7,4% increase in the benchmark price of natural gas, representing an average of €2,7 including VAT per bill. This latest increase affects 60% of residential gas subscribers, primarily those whose contracts are indexed to this reference price. This comes as a harsh blow after a year already marked by significant energy price volatility.

Successive increases after a brief lull

This increase comes just weeks after a 4,8% decrease observed at the beginning of June. But it is the 15,4% surge recorded on May 1st that is having the biggest impact on household budgets. By that date, 7,5 million households had already seen an average increase of €6,19 per bill, according to the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE). Consumers are thus experiencing a series of fluctuations that make long-term budget planning difficult.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), the independent authority responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of the French energy markets, regularly publishes these benchmark prices to allow consumers to compare market offers. These prices serve as a basis for suppliers to set their rates and provide visibility into the evolution of natural gas costs. Affected subscribers will soon receive a notification from their supplier detailing the exact impact on their contract.