The government had pledged to limit the rise in electricity bills to 4% this year, a measure that will cost more than expected.

“There will be a need for additional financing in 2023”, because “electricity prices have rather increased”, admitted Mr. Le Maire.

This funding requirement, “of the order of 2 billion euros”, “will be financed by the finance bill that we will examine at the start of the next school year, next October, for 2023”, he continued. in front of journalists.

“I want to be very clear with our compatriots, there will be no catch-up on their electricity bill. French consumers will not see any catch-up linked to this need for financing on their bill in 2023”, he insisted. .

The CLCV had previously warned that the tariff shield for this year could only be a “mirage”, with a probable tariff catch-up of 8% next year on electricity.

“Such a catch-up is very likely to induce a stratospheric rise in the price of electricity at the beginning of 2023”, worried in a press release the consumer defense association, which based its fears on a recent deliberation of the Regulatory Commission energy (CRE).

In a context of high inflation and the approach of legislative elections, this perspective has also taken a political turn.

“An 8% increase in electricity is well planned by the government. I had warned the French that Emmanuel Macron was lying to them and would increase their bill after the elections”, reacted Marine Le Pen on Twitter. “It will be the same for gas and fuel. Only RN deputies will protect you from this racket,” she wrote.

“In 2023, we want to continue to protect the French against the increase in the prices of electricity and gas”, for his part assured Mr. Le Maire, considering that it is however too early to give details to this. topic. “I’ll meet you at the start of the 2022 school year when we examine the finance bill,” he said.