Electricity price cap set for consumers amid power shortage
No cap for business electricity fees
Electricity bill soars from 540,000 to 2,020,000 won
Artisans who bake baguettes, which can be bought for around 1 euro (about 1,300 won) in France, have recently been struggling with rising energy prices. Baguettes are the "national bread" enjoyed by French people of all ages and genders.
Although the French government set some limits on electricity price increases for consumers again this year following last year, it has taken no special measures for businesses.
On the 3rd (local time), AFP reported the story of Julien Bernard Reynar, who runs a bakery in the small eastern French village of Burgaltrof. According to the agency, Reynar said about his tightened business situation, "I never imagined that I would have to close the bakery because of electricity bills. I signed a new contract last September, and the cost increased by two and a half times." He added that the electricity bill, which was 400 euros (about 540,000 won) per month last year, rose to 1,500 euros (about 2,020,000 won), and he heard from others nearby that some places saw electricity bills increase by 10 to 12 times, AFP reported.
Not only Reynar but also many others in France have faced increasingly difficult conditions to run their businesses as the prices of ingredients needed for baking and confectionery, such as flour, butter, and sugar, have risen since last year, along with soaring electricity costs.
As dissatisfaction in the baking industry grew, Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy and Finance, held a meeting with energy suppliers such as EDF and TotalEnergies on the same day, Reuters reported. After the meeting, Minister Le Maire told reporters that they agreed to review energy supply contracts according to the situations faced by bakers.
He also expressed expectations that many businesses could save about 40% on energy costs through government subsidies and rate reductions by energy suppliers. Minister Le Maire added that the baking industry should not be driven into despair just one month after the "artisan know-how and culture of baguettes" was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Prime Minister ?lisabeth Borne also promised in an earlier interview with France Info radio that bakers facing financial difficulties would be allowed to defer payments such as taxes.
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