EDF: unions and consumers opposed to more cheap electricity to competition

To contain the rise in electricity prices for individuals and small professionals to 4% this year, the government has already forced EDF to sell more of its nuclear electricity at low cost under the mechanism called Arenh ("regulated access to historical nuclear electricity"). It also set a minimum tax on electricity, the TICFE.

While EDF is normally forced to sell 100 TWh to its competitors within the framework of the Arenh, the president of CRE Jean-François Carenco proposed on Wednesday to raise this volume "to 130" TWh for the year 2023.

“All in its support for alternative suppliers, CRE would like to finish off EDF that it would not do otherwise!”, denounce FO Energie et Mines, FNME-CGT, CFE-Energies, FCE-CFDT and CLCV , in a joint press release.

The raising of the Arenh ceiling this year, to 120 TWh, was strongly opposed by EDF CEO Jean-Bernard Lévy, who launched an appeal against the government's decision, given the effect of this measure. for the finances of the energy company, very indebted.

The signatories of this forum "condemn without appeal this new exit from the road of the president of the CRE and ask the government to remind him of the duty of reserve which is his and which prohibits him from making the energy policy of the Nation instead elected bodies".

They "require the government to stop draining EDF and not to increase this Arenh ceiling again", denouncing a "totally scandalous" request. They argue that there are "other avenues than that of bringing the public company to its knees to maintain a tariff shield protecting consumers", and call in particular for a reform of the European electricity market.

The EDF unions had attacked the government's decision to raise the Arenh ceiling in summary proceedings before the Council of State, without immediately winning their case.