This is an energy contribution that costs each French household an average of 164 euros per year and that almost everyone is unaware of. A windfall that is supposed to put France on the path to energy sobriety, but whose results are more than uncertain. In a report published on Tuesday 17 September, the Court of Auditors draws up a damning assessment of energy saving certificates (CEE), calling for an urgent reform or even the elimination of this mechanism, which The world I had already documented the abuse a few months ago.
Although little known, the CEE system has established itself, since its creation in 2005, as “The backbone of French energy efficiency and demand control policy”The Court notes that the EECs are based on a semi-private polluter-pays mechanism: instead of paying a tax to the State, suppliers (Engie, TotalEnergies, etc.) are required each year to carry out or finance a certain number of actions to reduce energy consumption. Thermal renovation, promoting car sharing, replacing lighting… The list of possible operations is established with the approval of the State.
It is not public money, but the cost of the EECs ends up being passed on discreetly to their clients’ bills. It is therefore, in complete opacity, a little more than 4%. of the energy bills of French people who pay into this system, according to the Court of Auditors. This is equivalent, for example, to around 7.3 euro cents per litre of petrol purchased.
This original mechanism has long been praised for its flexibility and efficiency. On paper, it should create a virtuous circle based on market laws. In order to achieve the EWC quotas allocated to them, companies are encouraged to seek the most effective actions for each euro invested. The office of the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, praised it in June after World the effect ” massive “ of the EEC, proposing the figure of 24 terawatt hours saved by 2021 alone, i.e. the equivalent of 1.5% of annual French consumption.
Overestimated or even unrealistic performances
The Court of Auditors does not share this view. The performance of the EWCs is measured on the basis of “theoretical calculations that are never verified by measuring actual energy consumption, once the operations have been carried out”addresses the institution. Result: the figures would be “overrated”[s] » at least 30%. The judges also point out the existence of fraud “significant” as well as the rebound effect (i.e. the increase in energy consumption following renovation work, which can occur, for example, if a house increases the temperature of its heating), two factors that further reduce performance in the event of a decrease.
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