“It will play the role of facilitator to support small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly energy-intensive ones, in their negotiations with energy suppliers,” said Minister Delegate for Industry Roland Lescure.
Bercy will recruit in the coming days a “negotiatorin its services to help industrial companies in their relations with energy suppliers, Minister Delegate for Industry Roland Lescure announced to AFP on Wednesday. “We do not want the industry to be a collateral victim of the war in Ukraine“Explained the Minister at the end of the meeting held in Bercy with gas and electricity suppliers, called upon to have better practices in their relations with customers, in particular professional ones.
«It will play the role of facilitator to support small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly energy-intensive ones, in their negotiations with energy suppliers.“, which can be difficult at the time of contract renewals for example, specified the Minister. This is for the ministry tosystematize» support that has already been implemented on a case-by-case basis with companies in difficulty such as the glassmaker Arc, a major energy consumer.
A charter of good practices
The ministry wants companies that are experiencing tense negotiations with their suppliers to first approach the commissioners for restructuring and prevention of business difficulties (CRP), positioned with the regional prefects, before turning to Bercy. “The most difficult cases“Can be examined at Bercy, and if necessary, be transmitted to this negotiator, explained Roland Lescure.
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The main gas and electricity suppliers have signed a charter of best practices which includes 25 commitments, mainly aimed at SMEs. They promise, for example, to warn customers two months before the expiry of their contract, and will also have to offer at least one offer to their customers so that no company is left without any contract. For its part, the State will facilitate the signing of gas and electricity contracts for companies by providing its guarantee.
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