The French are no longer able to pay their electricity bills, to the point of worsening their living conditions

While the National Energy Mediator warned in early March of the growing difficulties French people are having in paying their energy bills, an Ifop survey for the Hexagone observatory has confirmed these difficulties.

The survey, conducted from January 28 to 30, 2025, among a sample of 1000 people, representative of the French population aged 18 and over, measures in particular the sacrifices made in terms of food or health, in order to pay electricity or fuel bills.

Finally, as part of the publication of a broader report on energy costs in France, the Hexagone observatory examines the issue of taxes (fuel, electricity, gas) and highlights the extent to which the French expect the State to take action in this area.

The French are being hit hard by rising energy prices: one in two say they have noticed a sharp increase in their bill.

Whether it's their electricity or gas bill, almost all French people will see an increase in February 2025 compared to the previous year: 83% for electricity and 84% for gas.

Nearly half of respondents even mentioned a significant increase, with a rate reaching 53% regarding their electricity bill. Above all, the issue of rising energy bills affects the entire population, including the wealthiest categories, without exception.

Rising energy bills are forcing more than two-thirds of French people to frequently forgo certain purchases.

These increases are not without consequences for household budgets: 68% of French people say they have to give up certain expenses, including 43% who even do so "often".

The main budget item sacrificed due to energy costs is holidays, which 48% of respondents have already given up, ahead of heating their homes (41%), buying food (38%) and, even more worrying, healthcare, for a quarter of French people (25%).

While taxes sometimes represent a significant portion of the energy bill paid by the French, they rarely have a clear idea of how much they cost. Once informed, a large majority would like to see them reduced.

While taxes are only one of the many factors that explain the amount of energy bills, 87% of French people are unaware of the level of taxes applied by the State on energy.

When informed about the level of taxes levied, the French overwhelmingly believe that they should be reduced (79%). This opinion is particularly strong for taxes on fuel (72%) and electricity (71%), but also applies to taxes on gas, which 64% of French people would like to see reduced.

Symbolizing the pressure exerted by the energy bill on purchasing power, regardless of the environmental considerations affirmed by the French, no category of the population advocates a tax increase - not even environmental sympathizers, of whom only 14% would support an increase in taxes on gas, and 17% on fuels.