New part of the energy sobriety plan. Indeed, on October 6, 2022, Elisabeth Borne presented the first part of the measures aimed at reducing France’s energy consumption. The objective was to anticipate energy shortages, in particular electricity and gas. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia was one of the reasons for this project. A few months later, new measures were then presented to companies to reduce energy use.
On Monday April 3, Agnès Pannier-Runacher brought together nearly sixty of the most important companies at the Hôtel de Roquelaure in the 7th arrondissement, as Le Parisien points out. The objective was to encourage companies to continue their efforts. As indicated by the Ministry of Energy Transition, the Minister began by congratulating the companies for the measures already in place, but stressed the need to intensify them. The latter then announced the government’s tracks for the second act of the sobriety plan.
Tuesday, June 20, 2023 marks the launch of Act II of the energy sobriety plan. Indeed, in an interview with Parisian on June 19, Agnès Pannier-Runacher returned to the measures to be applied on the eve of the transition to the summer season. The first part of the plan “has made it possible to reduce our electricity and gas consumption by 12% and to avoid possible power cuts”, announced the minister. Moreover, there is an 8.5% drop in greenhouse gas emissions. However, the government does not want to stop there.
“Reducing our energy consumption is essential to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and it gives everyone purchasing power. Sobriety is all year round, including summer” , she explained. Thus, to maintain these long-term objectives, the government has unveiled the new measures to be applied as of June 20. Which ones?
Some of the key measures of Act II of the energy sobriety plan concern businesses. During the winter, companies were asked not to exceed 19°C for heating. For this summer, this measure also concerns air conditioning. “Since 2007, the law provides that the air conditioning does not drop below 26 ° C. The challenge is to finally apply it, in offices as in cinemas”, specifies Agnès Pannier-Runacher at Parisian. This directive concerns both companies and businesses. The minister also signed a decree requiring stores to close their doors when the air conditioning is on.
After meeting with the 40 major companies in the CAC 40, the Minister for Energy Transition also announced the implementation of the publication of quantified targets for reducing the energy consumption of these companies. But employees are also affected by these measures.
Among the key measures discussed with companies, some are intended for employees. Indeed, Agnès-Pannier-Runacher once again encouraged teleworking, which should be coupled with a drop in energy consumption. Moreover, “twenty-seven undertake to ask their employees to slow down in the car, as part of their professional journeys, in particular on the motorway by driving at 110 km / h instead of 130, after having promoted travel by train rather than by plane”, she specifies then. The objective is to maintain efforts despite the drop in gas prices.
But to raise awareness among the French, the Minister evokes a new communication campaign around the issues of energy consumption. “We are relaunching a campaign “Every gesture counts for the planet”. Energy companies will also take up this slogan and communicate to their customers on the right gestures to adopt”, she indicates.
Finally, “the novelty is that, for the granting of the license of football clubs for next season – the one which allows those in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 to benefit from television rights – energy sobriety criteria will be taken into account”, she finally announces. The measures announced therefore concern all areas and must be applied from June 20, 2023.