The shutdown of certain factories such as Duralex shows how difficult it is for companies to fight against energy price inflation.
The aid measures for businesses and communities announced at the end of October by the government to deal with the surge in electricity bills will not cover “only 10 to 20% of the increase” for retail companies, who say to themselves “a grand dangerWednesday in a statement.
The French Trade Council (CDCF), which brings together around thirty trade federations, ensures that “the electricity cost amortization mechanism put in place is not sufficient and only covers 10 to 20% of the increase in electricity bills», and affirms that the companies he represents «are in great danger“. The government announced Thursday aid to support businesses and communities facing the explosion of their energy bills, with a total envelope of nearly 12 billion euros.
In particular, there is provision for aelectricity damperwhich should come into force on January 1 and provides that the State will bear part of the 2023 bill for small and very small businesses, but also local authorities, hospitals, universities and associations, which do not have access to tariff shield.
“Facing the Unsolvable Equation”
The second measure consists in simplifying an already existing system, but much too complex and therefore underused, rather intended for medium-sized companies (ETI). A one-stop shop will allow companies whose energy bills (gas, electricity but also heat and cold) have increased by at least 50% from 2022 by the end of November to obtain assistance, with the possibility of requesting a advance payment.
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For the CDCF, “these measures that we expected are unfortunately disappointing and do not match the seriousness of the situation“. He believes that VSEs and SMEs “will still have to bear a large increase in their cost despite the application of the electricity buffer“. In the absence of new aid, they should “face an unsolvable equation», i.e. either «pass on their costs in the selling price“, which would aggravate inflation and threaten consumption, or “reduce their investments or even completely stop their activity».