Energy bills: interventions for unpaid bills increased by 10% in 2022

An increase despite the implementation of the tariff shield. Interventions for unpaid energy bills – power limitations or cuts – increased overall by 10% in 2022, the energy ombudsman announced on Thursday March 30. “Despite the tariff shield and the allocation of additional energy vouchers, the number of interventions for unpaid bills increased in 2022: 863,000 (…) were implemented, i.e. an increase of 10% compared to 2021”said the mediator in a press release.

According to the mediator, most of the interventions for unpaid debts concerned “power reductions, which are less penalizing for the consumers concerned”, because they make it possible to ensure a minimum service: light, refrigerator, telephone charging, etc. Their number jumped in 2022: 610,000 power reductions were recorded, an increase of 36% compared to 2021 and a multiplication by 2.2 since 2019, specifies the mediator. About less than a third were the work of EDF, according to the incumbent supplier.

In parallel, “for the first time”the year 2022 will have been marked by “a decrease in power cuts” by 38%: 157,000 cuts were recorded, compared to 254,000 in 2021. “This development is mainly due to the fact that some suppliers, in particular EDF, following the recommendations of the national energy ombudsman, have decided to carry out power reductions in the event of non-payment rather than power cuts. electricity”underlines the press release.

A minimum power supply for two months

Since April 1, 2022, EDF has chosen to no longer suspend the power supply in the event of non-payment by its customers, but to reduce their power to 1 kVA or 3 kVa, regardless of the time of year. A decree published on February 26, 2023 is now binding on all suppliers. They must for at least 60 days provide a minimum electricity supply of 1 kVA, prior to a power cut in the event of unpaid bills for households benefiting from the energy voucher and the Housing Solidarity Fund, equipped with a communicating meter.

With this measure this year, the end of the winter break on April 1 will therefore no longer be synonymous with direct power cuts for tenants who are struggling to pay rent and bills. “We must go further”argues the energy mediator Olivier Challan Belval, calling for replacing power cuts with a reduction in power supply, in the event of unpaid bills. “The current energy crisis raises questions about the long-term protection mechanisms for the most fragile consumers.”