Aid to households for energy: fuel and wood vouchers extended

The aid intended for low-income households heating with wood or fuel oil will be extended for a month, the government considering that all "those who were entitled to it were not able to benefit from it", announced Thursday March 30 the Minister of Energy transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher.

Low-income households heating with fuel oil will be able to apply for this aid of between 100 and 200 euros until April 30, i.e. an additional period of one month for the 1,6 million eligible households.

For the wood check, which ranges from 50 to 200 euros depending on income, family composition and type of fuel, the request can also be made online until the end of May, i.e. an additional period of one months for the 2,6 million eligible households.

"Where the energy check is a check which arrives automatically on the basis of the tax declaration for the French, the wood check and the fuel check must be requested. I therefore really invite the millions of French people who are concerned to come forward," said Agnès Pannier-Runacher at the microphone of Sud Radio.

The minister stressed that it was important for this aid to reach the French, believing that all “those who were entitled to it” had not been able to benefit from it.

Questioned by AFP, the ministry was unable to communicate the number of beneficiaries to date.

The request for wood and fuel checks is made online on the site chequeboisfioul.asp-public.fr.

In addition, the minister warned against scams related to cold calling. "When you are told that the photovoltaic panel is one euro or free, or that thermal renovation is free, it does not exist. Today the state does not approach the French," she said. .

On several occasions, the government has been challenged on its communication concerning aid to households and businesses in the face of the explosion in energy prices, the dedicated envelopes having sometimes been used less than expected.

Companies in particular have pushed for a simplification of aid applications, deemed too complex.

On the other hand, residential gas or electricity subscribers do not have to take any steps to benefit from the "tariff shield" which blocks tariffs or their increase (+15% on 1 January for gas and +15% for electricity on February 1) and whose Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne announced on January 3 the extension "until the end of the year".

For condominiums, aid is also, since January 1, directly requested and passed on by the energy supplier.