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France Weighs New Cut to Energy Voucher as Energy Poverty Indicators Worsen

New ombudsman figures point to record bill-payment strain this year.

Overview

  • The draft 2026 finance bill would trim the chèque énergie by €225 million after its reduction from €900 million to €720 million in 2025, pending parliamentary approval, and associations are organizing a Nov. 18 mobilization to oppose the cut.
  • The association of local authorities FNCCR warns that more than 1.5 million households could lose access to the voucher, which averages about €143 a year, if the cut is enacted.
  • The national energy ombudsman reports 36% of people struggled to pay gas or electricity bills over the past year and 35% say they suffer from the cold, a sharp rise from 2024.
  • ONPE counts 3.1 million households in formal energy poverty in 2023, or 10.1% of households, compared with 3.2 million in 2022.
  • Renovation aid has been weakened after a summer suspension of MaPrimeRénov’ and a relaunch with lower subsidies, as 12.7% of primary residences are rated energy‑inefficient as of January 1, 2025.