energy suppliers accused of inflating their prices

In Mont-Saint-Aignan (Seine-Maritime), a butcher’s shop fears a high-risk winter. The boss, Jean-Christophe Gréaume, is helpless in the face of energy prices. In his shop, some equipment is essential and works continuously. “What consumes the most are our cold rooms. And that is incompressible, we are obliged to keep the temperatures“, he says. His electricity contract is coming to an end. When renegotiating with his supplier, it’s a cold shower: 9 cents during peak winter hours in 2021, against a minimum of 132 cents in 2022.

These difficulties are encountered by many companies. The Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, accused energy suppliers on Friday, September 30 of inflating prices for professionals. “Not acceptable“, he castigated. He will bring together all energy suppliers on Wednesday, October 5, in order to sign a code of good conduct. At European level, a first agreement was reached during the day: part of the profits of producers of energy will be recovered and then returned to households and businesses.