Despite the ban on installing new oil boilers, 40% of users do not want to change

Indeed, a decree published in the Official Journal on January 6, 2022 makes it impossible to install new heating appliances running on fuel oil or coal in renovation and new builds, by setting a maximum threshold for greenhouse gas emissions. to be respected of 300gCO2eq/KWh.

One year after an initial survey of fuel oil consumers following the announcement of the ban, FioulReduc, an independent website selling fuel oil at low prices, and Hellio, a key player in energy management, wanted to question them again in order to observe changes in behavior as this measurement approaches.

This study, to which 1.114 fuel oil consumers responded online between April 20 and May 12, 2022*, reveals that the impending ban does not seem to cause a real jump in fuel oil users: 40% of them want still keep this mode of energy for heating, despite an increase in its price in recent months, and are increasingly worried.

This study reveals some interesting developments to highlight, such as consumer disaffection for the gas boiler, less and less popular as an alternative, and a quicker move to action for those who have decided to take the plunge.

*Methodology: FioulReduc and Hellio jointly organized a consultation with 124.000 FioulReduc customers across France, to which 1.114 people responded online between April 20 and May 12, 2022.

Consumers still satisfied with their fuel oil equipment in place despite a variable and rising price

According to the results of the survey, the profile of fuel oil consumers remains similar to that of 2021: their household is made up of 2,2 people on average, they are mostly retired, with an average age of 61, the average income of their household is €38.885. Their average annual fuel oil expenditure amounts to €1.710, it was €1.632 in 2021, an increase of 5%.

For Maëlle Ricard, director of operations at FioulReduc: “The price of fuel oil has increased by 78% in 1 year, not to mention an unprecedented increase of 135% for 1 month due to the crisis in Ukraine. Expenditure by French people heated by fuel oil only increased by 5% over one year. Several elements can explain this difference: on the one hand some people have restricted their heating, filling their tank to a minimum each time; on the other hand, depending on the date of their last supply, they were able to spread the extra cost a little. It is very likely that the cost increase will be felt more next year, if prices do not fall by then. »

These consumers still appreciate fuel oil above all for its heating comfort (38%), its simplicity in day-to-day management (30%) and its reliability (21%).

According to them, however, the main disadvantage of fuel oil remains its variable price at 36% and its annual cost comes this year in 2nd position of the disadvantages with 26% of respondents against 18% in 2021. Proof that the increase in the price of energy also impacts the users of this heating mode.

The environmental impact of fuel oil is also among the disadvantages mentioned, but to a lesser extent and without progress compared to last year (14% in 2022 vs 15% in 2021).

Prospects for banning the installation of new oil-fired boilers: more worry, less gas and faster action

The imminent entry into force of this regulatory measure, relating only to new installations, is causing even more concern and dissatisfaction among consumers than in 2021, with concern rising from 36% to 40%.

They are still 40% to declare that this ban will not push them to change energy in the next 5 years, a proportion in slight decline compared to 2021 (47%). 21% plan to change the burner of their boiler to make it compatible with biofuel, 17% think nothing will change and 2% want to install a new fuel oil boiler before the ban.

The main motivation cited by consumers remains the proper functioning of their installation with 44% of the responses expressed (47% in 2021).

The share of the undecided has meanwhile increased: it has gone from 38% in 2021 to 43% this year.

Among the other notable developments to highlight, the share of consumers wanting to change their fuel oil boiler to switch to another energy is showing a slight increase: 17% are considering it (15% in 2021).

The heat pump remains the most popular heating method (51%), ahead of the wood pellet boiler (35%).

Highlight: the gas boiler only obtains 4% of the vote (12% in 2021). The drop in aid for its installation (Coup de Pouce removed on July 1, 2021 and removal of MaPrimeRénov' to come from January 1, 2023) and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict certainly played a role in the choice of responses.

Finally, it should be noted that the hybrid boiler, combining a heat pump system and an oil boiler, is now cited as another possible alternative by 6% of respondents.

For these 17% of respondents who plan to part with their oil boiler, they plan to take the plunge in a faster period of time than in 2021: within the year for more than half (54% vs 40% in 2021 ).

The possibility of using biofuel2 (fuel oil containing biofuels in order to make it more ecological by reducing its sulfur content and its CO2 emissions) to replace fuel oil arouses the curiosity of a large number of consumers (49%). The reservations mentioned on this subject always concern the compatibility of their equipment, the additional cost linked to this product and its ecological impact.

Note that the 30 biofuel boilers will comply with the new standard for the replacement of a heating system (maximum threshold for greenhouse gas emissions of 300gCO2eq/KWh). The date of authorization of this future fuel is not yet known to date.

Financial aid: an element increasingly considered as a trigger

In order to achieve its objective of changing all fuel oil boilers in the next 10 years, the French government has set up several financial aids: MaPrimeRénov', including the very recent additional bonus of €1 granted from April 000 until on December 15, 31 for replacement with renewable energy equipment, and the Heating Boost.

However, the brake linked to the financial means to change equipment concerns more respondents than in 2021, going from 17% to 23%.

For 2/3 of fuel oil consumers declaring that they have not yet considered replacing their fuel oil equipment, more generous financial aid or aid accessible to a greater number of people could encourage them to reconsider their heating method. This trend increased in 2022, from 69% to 74%. Proof that despite the additional bonus granted since April 15, 2022, the aid is still not considered sufficient.

For Pierre Maillard, Chairman and CEO of Hellio: “Helping 3,5 million oil-heated homes switch to another source of energy cannot be done in a snap of the fingers! The stakes are high, both for each household and for the fuel oil sector, which knows how to be proactive with biofuels. It is essential to emphasize that a change of heating system must be considered according to the state of the property, its location, and the composition of the occupying household. Hellio advises not to rush into a heating system that a household might regret! Professionals like Hellio are mobilized to find the best solution, and install it at the best time. Our objective is to maximize the energy savings of a home, improve its comfort and enhance its property. This triptych must take precedence over the rest! Beware of unscrupulous sellers on these three points. »

Reminder of aid for the replacement of an oil boiler

MyPrimeRénov '

This public aid makes it possible to finance, among other things, the heating work of a single-family house or an apartment in collective housing. The work must be carried out by companies with the RGE label. MaPrimeRénov' is accessible to all owners, occupants and lessors, regardless of their income. Its amount varies according to income levels classified into 4 categories: blue (very modest households), yellow (low-income households), purple (intermediate income), pink (high income).

Since April 15, 2022 and until December 31, 2022, the government grants an additional bonus of €1 for any replacement of a heating system with renewable energy equipment.

Hellio has been an agent of Anah since July 2020.

The Heating Boost

The “Coup de Pouce” scheme is a flat-rate financial bonus allocated to carrying out energy-saving work in exchange for quality requirements and guaranteed energy performance. Created by the Ministry for Ecological Transition in January 2019, the “Heating Boost” scheme helps households change their inefficient boiler for equipment using renewable energy.

Hellio, signatory of the charter of commitment of this “Coup de Pouce” accompanies households in these changes.

The “Heating boost” can be combined with MaPrimeRénov' and the eco-PTZ.