Tariff shield & exceptionnal measures

In order to shield domestic households, small businesses and small municipalities from the effect of energy price rises, the French government enacted a series of temporary affordability measures from the Fall 2021: 

• Electricity and gas retail tariff freeze: electricity retail tariffs  for households were capped at October 2021 levels until end 2021. Tariff control was extended until end June 2023, capping the rise at 15% from January 2023 levels. Gas retail tariffs were capped for households at October 2021 levels, until January 2023. Tariff control were extended until end June 2023, capping the rise for SMEs and small municipalities at 15% from February 2023 levels. 
• 100 EUR Household subsidy  ("Indemnité inflation"), meant to compensate the rise in energy expenses, and sent to around 38 million low-income beneficiaries in December 2021.
• Energy vouchers of EUR 100 for gas and electricity to low income households allocated in December 2021. The scheme has been completed with a EUR 100-200 heating subsidy, sent in November 2022.
• Fuel subsidy ("Remise carburant") from April to end of July 2022 for the purchase of gasoline, diesel ( both discounted at EUR -18 cts), off-road fuel, fishboat fuel, LPG and NGV. The discount has been extended until end 2022, decreasing to EUR 10 cts until December 2022. Subsidies are paid to upstream fuel distributors for the volumes sold, which pass it on to the final consumer through retail or professional sellers.
   In 2023, a EUR 100 payment ("indemnité carburant") has been provided to 10 million low-revenue, car-dependent workers.
• Public sector energy affordability support: in November 2022, specific financial transfers were enacted for the Army, as well as for universities and public research and higher-education institutions, in order to support the payment of energy bills.  
•  A Guarantee scheme for collaterals for electricity and gas supply contracts enabling financial intermediaries to better cover the risks associated with guarantees provided as collateral in connection with new energy contracts, was enacted in February 2023.

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