The Government is preparing the 5th period of the Energy Saving Certificates (EEC) system

Energy saving certificates (CEE) constitute one of the main instruments of the energy demand control policy implemented by the Government.

The consultation of the texts governing their future development almost a year before the entry into force of the next period aims to give visibility to all the players concerned on the main parameters of future obligations. For the energy suppliers (who are the "obligated" of the system), this particularly involves being able to prepare for the achievement of the targets for reducing energy consumption set for this next period, which will last 4 years, up to 'at the end of 2025.

The mechanism of energy saving certificates will be reinforced in the 5th period while taking care to limit the impact on consumers' energy bills: the total volume of the obligation will increase by 12,5% ​​and will thus establish at 2400 TWhp over 4 years (against 2133 TWhp over 4 years for the current period). Over these 4 years, the EWCs will finance savings actions contributing around 45% to the energy savings objectives set by the national low-carbon strategy (SNBC) and the multi-year energy program (PPE) .

In addition, the method of calculating the obligation set for each energy supplier is changing, in order to be more directly representative of the volume of energy placed on the market.

The share of bonuses and "nudges", which increase the certificates granted for certain operations in order to encourage their development, will be limited to 25% of the total volume of the obligation, in order to strengthen the general efficiency of the system. EEC. The bonuses will thus be refocused on actions which pursue an objective of enhanced decarbonization, a social objective or which are accompanied by performance guarantees.

To support the most precarious households, the portion of the obligation dedicated to the fight against fuel poverty will be increased to 600 TWhc and will focus on the most precarious households.

The subsidies for replacing fossil-fueled heating (fuel oil and gas) with renewable energies and the subsidies for the efficient renovation of housing are extended until 2025.

"With an increasing level of obligations and improved operating rules, we are consolidating an effective lever to achieve our objectives of reducing energy consumption and support our fellow citizens, our businesses and our local authorities in the energy transition and fight against climate change ” Barbara Pompili said.

Find online the decree and its presentation report, and the decree and its presentation report

What are energy saving certificates?

This is a system that requires energy suppliers (gas, electricity, fuels, domestic fuel oil, heat and cold) to support energy saving actions, in proportion to the volumes of energy they provide.

The device will make it possible to mobilize around 20 billion euros over the period 2022-2025 in favor of energy saving actions.

In 2019 alone, the EWCs enabled more than 1,4 million operations to be undertaken, including more than 700.000 attic or floor insulation and more than 250.000 efficient heating system installations. In industry, agriculture or transport, more than 100.000 operations have been initiated, for example to optimize heat recovery or the monitoring and regulation of energy systems.

In 2019 and 2020, the only “heating boost” supported the replacement of over 200.000 oil-fired boilers, the vast majority replaced by renewable systems (heat pump, biomass, geothermal energy, solar thermal) and the replacement of 56.000 boilers in gas by renewable systems (heat pump, biomass, geothermal energy, solar thermal).

Since summer 2020, the tertiary heating boost has enabled the heating of 600.000 m² of tertiary buildings to be renovated.

In 2020, two new incentives for the efficient global renovation of collective housing and individual houses were created. They allow households to finance ambitious and efficient renovation work and can be combined with MaPrimeRénov 'aid.

Several support programs have also been set up within the framework of the EWCs: public service for energy renovation (through the SARE program which co-finances the FAIRE spaces with the communities); bicycle aids (including the "bicycle boost", which has already enabled the repair of nearly 1,4 million bicycles); aid for electric vehicle charging stations (including 23.000 charging points installed in company and condominium car parks or on the road); support for road hauliers; training of energy advisers in industry; improvement of the initial training of building craftsmen; subsidization and guarantee of eco-energy loans for VSEs and SMEs in the industrial and tertiary sectors; or even a support service for local authorities for the renovation of their own buildings (ACTEE program, carried by the FNCCR - national federation of granting authorities and management).