Modalities for implementing the discount of 15 euro cents per liter for the acquisition of fuel

It is a measure for all individuals. It is also a support measure for farmers, fishermen, road hauliers, taxis and public works actors. Its cost is estimated at 3 billion euros.

On March 26, the Government published the decree relating to exceptional aid for the acquisition of fuels, which specifies the methods of implementation, adopted in consultation with all the players in the sector (suppliers, distributors and representatives of the service stations).

The decree first specifies the list of eligible fuels. Thus, diesel, fishing diesel, non-road diesel (GNR), gasoline (SP95, SP98-E5, SP-95-E10), liquefied petroleum gas fuel (LPG-c), natural gas vehicle (CNG) in compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG) form, super-ethanol (E85) and diesel ethanol (ED95).

The discount will be 15 euro cents excluding tax per liter for petrol and diesel, 15 euros per MWh for natural gas fuel and €29,13 for 100 kg net for LPG-c.

To implement this rebate, a subsidy of 15 euro cents excluding tax (or the above-mentioned amount for CNG and LPG-c) will be paid to fuel “putters for consumption” for the volumes of fuel sold. The aid is then reassigned to service stations or professionals, and passed on to the end consumer.

On arriving at a service station, the consumer will see the price of fuel already discounted by 15 centimes excluding tax displayed on both the totems and the prices at the pump. He will therefore pay the discounted fuel price directly.

While the very strong competition existing on the market already invites the majority of players to retrocede the entire rebate so as not to lose market share, a charter, signed very widely in the profession, includes a commitment by suppliers and distributors to ensure the full pass-on of the discount to the final consumer. This charter, and the specific obligations provided for in the decree, will allow reinforced monitoring of prices to ensure the effectiveness of this passing-on, including the automatic detection of anomalies in the prices declared by distributors, as well as on-site checks by the DGCCRF.

So that service stations have fuel stored in tanks on March 31, 2022 and apply the discount from April 1, the decree provides for two methods:

• Consumers will be able to sell from March 27, 2022 to service stations or stored fuel professionals. This anticipation of a few days, at the level of producers for consumption, makes it possible to take into account the constraints of renewing the tanks of service stations, or stocks of professionals, without generating a shortage at the pump.
• Small independent service stations (which sell less than 50 m3 of fuel per month and which own their business), often located in rural areas, may only renew their tank every 10 or even 20 days. Some are therefore likely not to have stored fuel in the tank on April 1 despite the anticipation for March 27. For small independent service stations who so wish, in order to be able to apply the discount from April 1 like the other players, and without this weighing on their cash flow, a lump sum advance of €3000, to be reimbursed no later than September 16, will be paid to them by the Service and Payment Agency (ASP).

To ensure better readability of fuel prices over the next 4 months, distributors and service stations will systematically mention the State discount. The commitment charter signed largely by the profession includes commitments to this effect.

It is recalled that this system will be implemented for the next 4 months and is not limited in volume of fuel sold: it is therefore not necessary to go to a station from April 1 to benefit from it.