Energy Firms Accused of Misusing Renovation Aid Face Limited Penalties

Five companies, including TotalEnergies and EDF's Dalkia, are accused of exploiting energy-saving certificates, but sanctions remain minimal.

France's Energy Minister Olga Givernet accused five energy companies, including TotalEnergies and Dalkia, of misusing the Certificates of Energy Savings (CEE) program designed to fund energy-efficient renovations.
The alleged fraud involved overstating energy consumption and savings to inflate the value of certificates, which could then be used to meet regulatory obligations or traded for profit.
Only one company, Hellio Solutions, faces a financial penalty of €2.4 million, while other firms, including TotalEnergies, have only had certain certificates annulled without monetary fines.
TotalEnergies and Dalkia deny the allegations, with TotalEnergies claiming the annulled operations were based on data certified by state-accredited auditors and insisting on their commitment to zero tolerance for fraud.
The CEE program, a key tool in France's energy transition efforts, has faced criticism from the Cour des Comptes for vulnerabilities to manipulation and cost burdens passed onto consumers.