French authorities on Thursday unveiled a set of measures, including subsidies for the installation of smart thermostats in households and restrictions on the hours of operation of lighting installations in shops, to ensure that consumption remains on a downward trajectory of energy, reports Bloomberg.
The measures announced on Thursday add to a wider plan from last year to reduce heating use and electricity consumption in the public and private sectors, after Russia cut gas supplies to Europe and the operation of nuclear reactors in France was affected by outages prolonged. Even though energy prices have fallen from the record values reached last year, Europe is still facing high electricity bills as it steps up its efforts to combat climate change, according to Agerpres.
According to Energy Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher, France’s combined consumption of electricity and natural gas has fallen by around 12% from pre-crisis levels, exceeding the initial target of a 10% reduction by 2024.
“My goal is for this decline to become a structural one,” Agnes Pannier-Runacher said in an interview on Thursday for several publications. “Buying must become a habit,” added the French official.
The Paris government will offer subsidies that cover up to 80% of the price of a so-called “smart thermostat” in homes, which can cost up to 1,000 euros, said Agnes Pannier-Runacher. Six energy suppliers, including state group Electricite de France SA, will offer supply contracts that reward those customers who reduce their energy consumption, Pannier-Runacher added.
The law regulating the hours of operation for lighting installations in storefronts and commercial real estate will become tougher and those who violate the provisions will be fined up to 1,500 euros, said the Minister of Energy Transition. Also, the Government of Paris, which already grants subsidies for car-sharing, will introduce new tax reductions for companies that help their employees to come to work by bicycle. Oil consumption must continue to decrease, after it decreased by less than 2% last year, Pannier-Runacher said.