As it had already done for electricity, the federal government will therefore reduce, as of April, the VAT on natural gas to 6 percent. So, will this be enough to “offset” the latest increases? How much will consumers be able to save?
Three weeks ago, Roger, with the help of his son, was doing his gas bills. It went from 68 euros to 255 euros per month. He was considering extreme solutions. “Go to the CPAS or go to the Restos du Coeur”, he confided. Today, with 6% VAT instead of 21 for 6 months, father and son redo the accounts, the impact is rather reduced.
“Perhaps on the annual statement, there will be 60, 70 euros difference”, respect his son. “It’s nothing at all. I’ll get a quarter of butter, margarine and I have it for 10 euros, that’s all”, laments Roger.
And in addition, their energy supplier does not want to pass on the reduction to the monthly provisions. “They don’t want to. And in the end-of-year calculation, it will be established on the annual regularization. That’s what they told me”, says Roger’s son.
With electricity following suit, rent to pay and a modest pension, Roger still wonders how he will manage. “I don’t want to go begging from my children saying ‘I have nothing left to eat’… With 49 years of work!”, he throws.
At 86, there is no question for him to lower the thermostat.