OIL ENERGY CONTROL. To help the most humble of people pay their energy bills, the government has provided several exceptional financial aids.
[Mise à jour du mercredi 23 novembre 2022 à 09h10] Did you get a cold sweat from your last energy bill? In the context of rising energy prices, after the war in Ukraine, the government announced the payment of two exceptional financial aid. Since November 8, an exceptional energy check of 100 euros to 200 euros has been paid for the most modest households that burn fuel oil. Parallel, uAn exceptional energy check must also be paid by the end of the year for the lowest incomes, regardless of their heating method. The amount is between 100 euros and 200 euros, depending on family income.
To take advantage of it, you must take into account that your reference tax income per unit of consumption may not exceed EUR 17,400. If your reference income is less than 10,800 euros per consumption unit, the amount of the special energy check is 200 euros. If this is between 10,800 and 17,400, the amount of financial support will be reduced to 100 euros. A total of 12 million households are affected. As part of the 2022 amendment bill, the National Assembly voted for a support of 230 million euros for households that heat with wood (logs, pellets), the price of which is rising sharply. A total of three million French people heat themselves with wood.
The classic energy check is intended to help low-income households pay their energy bills. With an average amount estimated at 150 euros, it benefits 6 million households. This support replaced the social tariff system on 1 January 2018, after an experimental phase in four departments. This concerns both electricity bills (EDF, etc.) and gas bills (Engie, etc.), wood, fuel oil, etc.
The exceptional energy check, announced by the government in mid-September, aims to support the purchasing power of the most modest in anticipation of the energy crisis coming this winter. With an amount of between 100 and 200 euros, this financial support concerns the 40% of the poorest households whose income does not exceed a ceiling, or 12 million households in total, according to estimates by the executive. “If you are already a beneficiary of the energy check for 2022, you will receive another energy check for 200 euros,” warns the government on the energy check site. For households with a reference tax income per consumption unit (RFR/UC) greater than or equal to € 10,800 and less than € 17,400, you will receive an energy check for € 100. This exceptional energy check will be sent automatically from the end of December, without you having to do anything there. have to do.”
To limit the impact of the coming winter energy crisis, the government has announced the extension of the tariff shield for “all households, apartment buildings, social housing, small businesses and the smallest municipalities”. It will make it possible to limit the evolution of gas prices to +15% in January 2023 and to +15% for electricity in February 2023. This shield, lighter than the one implemented so far, will make it possible to limit the increase of the invoice. The surcharge is estimated at 25 euros per month for gas fireplaces. For households that heat with electricity, the additional costs are estimated at 20 euros per month.
Support for fuel oil is reserved for households that actually heat with fuel oil. Last summer, Parliament released a sizeable envelope to support them in the face of the oil price explosion. The exceptional heating oil check must be paid from 8 November 2022 to 1.6 million households, or half of the households that use heating oil. The amount is between 100 and 200 euros. To be eligible, income must not exceed a ceiling. Want to know more about government assistance? Consult our file:
Did you not receive the classic energy check, but are you eligible for special assistance in November? An online application portal has been made available. Please note that you must provide a heating oil affidavit if you live in a collective home. In a second step, you must fill in a number of questions and then fill in your contact details (tax number, surname and first name, telephone number). Please note: you have until March 31, 2023 to submit your application, reports the Ministry of Ecological Transition. In November 2022, a total of 1.6 million households will be affected by this exceptional fuel oil energy check. , natural gas, etc.).
Eligibility for the energy check is depending on the level of income and the composition of the household. The aid is subject to a resource ceiling, namely the reference tax income per unit of consumption (CU). The Reference Tax Income (RFR) is stated on the tax return. The number of CPUs depends on the size of the household. The first person counts for 1 consumption unit, the second for 0.5 and each additional person is equal to 0.3 units. In addition, the law of 7 December 2020 gives residents of a number of institutions (including rest homes) access to the energy check for 2021. The energy check is granted to households whose reference tax income does not exceed:
- 10,800 euros for a single person
- 16,200 euros for a couple (+3,240 euros per additional person in the household).
The amount of the energy check depends on the family income and composition. The average amount of the energy check in 2021 is around 200 euros. The minimum amount of the energy check is 48 euros and the maximum amount is 277 euros. In December 2021, all beneficiaries of the energy check received an exceptional increase of 100 euros. More details in the table below.
| Tax revenue less than € 5,600 | Tax income between €5,600 and €6,999 | Tax income between €6,700 and €7,700 | Tax income between €7,700 and €10,800 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cu | 194 € | 146 € | 98 € | 48 € |
| From 1 to 2 CPUs | 240 € | 176 € | 113 € | 63 € |
| 2 CUs and more | 277 € | 202 € | 126 € | 76 € |
The Ministry of Ecological and Inclusive Transition has put a simulator on its website to let you know if you can benefit from the energy check. To run the government simulation tool, all you need to do is enter your tax ID.
To use your energy check nothing could be easier. Once received, you can mail your check or even personally deliver it to the person or company you want to pay utility bills to. This could be your energy supplier, or the company in charge of carrying out the energy renovation works in your home, or even, for beneficiaries living in sheltered housing, the manager of the latter. When receiving an energy check, it is possible to request automatic allocation from your energy supplier: this means that subsequent checks will be automatically sent to your supplier, who will deduct them from the energy bill, without the beneficiary having to take any specific steps. to undertake.
The energy voucher can also be used on the special website of the Ministry of Ecological Transition to pay electricity or gas bills. In that case, you will need the number of your check and the references of your energy supply contract. They can also be used online via the website www.chequeenergie.gouv.fr.
The date of sending the energy check depends on the department where the beneficiary lives. In 2022, energy checks will be sent between March 30, 2022 and April 29, 2022. On this page you will find the week of dispatch per department. The validity period of the energy voucher is in theory one year. Checks received in spring 2021 are valid until March 31, 2022. The extra check for one hundred euros, sent in December 2021, is valid until March 31, 2023.
At the end of April, after sending all energy checks, you must contact the organization responsible for managing the system at the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition. Customer service (0805204805) is available from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 20:00. A contact form is also available in case of non-receipt of the energy check. Please note that the usual receipt of the energy check takes place between 2 and 4 days after sending.
