LThe government’s energy check is not as effective as it promised. In any case, the Court of Auditors asked the State to review its operation, in an investigation report released on Tuesday, February 22. According to the financial institution, the check suffers in particular from “inefficient targeting”, in addition to contravening the climate objectives that France has set itself. A range of criticisms which, according to the Court of Auditors, can “justify a reflection on the real nature of the device”.
According to the Court, by taking as the criterion of fuel poverty the share of income devoted to energy expenditure, it appears that approximately 25% of households in a real situation of fuel poverty do not receive this check. Conversely, regarding half of the households that receive it do not meet fuel poverty conditions.
In addition, its amount is too low to fight effectively once morest this precariousness and “relegates its function to that of social aid to support the purchasing power of households with the lowest standard of living”, points out the report. Moreover, the fact that the check can finance any type of energy results in subsidizing carbon and decarbonized energies in the same way, contrary to the country’s climate objectives.
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The report calls first to clarify the objectives of the device, which might then guide its refoundation. With three scenarios proposed to the legislator: making this aid free of use, accompanying the current system with an increase in carbon taxation or targeting only households in a situation of energy poverty – which would make it possible to increase the amount of aid at a constant overall cost.
Launched in 2018 to replace the social tariffs for gas and electricity, the energy check is paid every year to several million households on the basis of income, to help them cover their electricity, gas or electricity bills. oil, or to capitalize on energy renovation work. The Court notes, however, that this use for the purpose of works “did not have the expected success”, with less than 900 beneficiaries per annual campaign.
The check, amounting to 150 euros on average, was to concern just under 6 million households in 2021. It had to be extended by 100 euros at the end of the year, in the face of the boom in energy price. On Thursday, the finance committee of the National Assembly, chaired by Éric Woerth, will hear regarding this report the president of the second chamber of the Court of Auditors, Annie Podeur.
