Energy saving certificates: an increase in energy bills that should be put into perspective

Created in 2005, this mechanism finances, in particular, aid for electric mobility and energy renovation by requiring contributions from energy suppliers.

Tax or no tax?

The president of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, launched an attack against the changes to the Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) on January 1st, which he described as a "fiscal aggression" that would lead the government to increase "2 billion euros in taxes on fuels, heating oil, gas and electricity".

The government denounced "disinformation" because the decision, which was the subject of a decree published on November 4 in the Official Journal, is neither a tax nor a levy.

The decree in question increases by 27% the total volume of energy saving obligations that energy suppliers must finance, from 2026, for the next 5 years.

The CEEs, created to enable France to meet its European obligations regarding energy savings, therefore do not target consumers, but EDF, Engie, TotalEnergies and other energy suppliers, and fuel sellers.

What are the CEEs used for?

The system was designed to "support both the decarbonization of our uses" - the replacement of fossil fuels with less polluting energy sources - "and the reduction of our consumption", explains MP (Renaissance) and President of the High Council for Energy Jean-Luc Fugit.

In practical terms, in exchange for granting a bonus to a customer, household or business, for example to replace an oil boiler with a more environmentally friendly heat pump, the supplier obtains an Energy Savings Certificate (CEE). At the end of each period, they avoid penalties if they have met the CEE target set by the government.

In search of savings, the State has strengthened the use of this 100% private scheme to finance more aid for the ecological transition, especially in electric mobility (ecological bonus, social leasing) and the energy renovation of buildings, in parallel with the public scheme MaPrimeRénov'.

The increase in obligations for suppliers will make it possible to mobilize more private money for the benefit of individuals and businesses: from 6 billion euros in 2025, the windfall increases to more than 8 billion in 2026, of which about 25% goes to the poorest.

What effects will this have on pump prices?

It is "a cost for energy companies, but a gain for the French" who ultimately benefit from lasting energy savings, argues the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

But there is a downside: energy companies pass on their contribution, at least in part, to fuel prices and gas and electricity bills. The increased value of Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) could therefore raise costs for both individuals and businesses.

The head of the oil industry lobby (Ufip), Olivier Gantois, asserted that fuel prices would increase "by around 4 to 6 cents per liter" as a result. A range of "4 to 5 cents (...) in a year or two," also mentioned TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné, who called the measure "a diabolical scheme."

According to Mr. Gantois, EECs currently account for approximately 11 cents per liter of fuel. And from January 1st, this will be "15 to 17 cents".

But the Court of Auditors had put forward other orders of magnitude, with a cost to the consumer of 7,3 cents in 2023.

And what about energy bills?

In a September 2024 report, it estimated the cost of Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) borne by each household at €164 in 2023, representing 4,32% of their average annual energy expenditure (gas, electricity, and fuel). "It's a tiny fraction of the bill," asserts a gas and electricity supplier, without quantifying it.

Economy Minister Roland Lescure acknowledges that "the impact exists", "but most energy companies only marginally pass on the benefits of energy efficiency certificates to consumers".

On the other hand, "others decide to use the EECs as an excuse to raise their prices," he criticized, referring the sellers of petroleum products to their responsibilities.