Mayur MohtaA new survey shows that a third of French households found it hard to settle their electricity or gas bills over the past year, with young adults and small business owners facing the toughest struggle.
A Third of French Households Are Falling Behind on Energy Bills
One in three French people faced difficulty closing out their electricity bills over the last 12 months. This comes from a fresh study carried out by the office of France’s energy ombudsman.
“A third of the 2,000 people surveyed, or 34 percent, admitted they had struggled to pay some of their electricity or gas bills over the past 12 months.”
That figure covers households across the country, not just a small pocket of struggling families. It paints a tough picture of daily life for many French citizens right now.
Young Adults and Entrepreneurs Are Hit the Hardest
The numbers get worse for certain groups. People under 35 reported much higher rates of difficulty than the general population.
The struggle climbs to 55 percent among people younger than 35 years old. For entrepreneurs and small business owners, that number jumps even further, reaching 77 percent.
These figures suggest younger generations and self employed workers are carrying a heavier burden than older, more established households.
Families Are Cutting Back on Heating to Save Money
Rising energy costs have pushed many households into tough choices at home. Heating has become one of the first things families are willing to sacrifice.
“As a result, roughly three quarters of households decided to turn down their heating last winter to try to cut costs.”
This is not a small adjustment. Nearly 75 percent of homes made a deliberate decision to live colder in order to manage their budgets.
Nearly Nine in Ten French People Worry About Energy Costs
Concern over energy spending is now widespread across French society. The survey found that anxiety about bills touches almost everyone.
About 89 percent of those surveyed said they are worried about how much they spend on energy. Meanwhile, 86 percent believe gas and electricity prices are seriously straining their household budgets.
That 86 percent figure marks the highest level of concern recorded since 2007, showing just how much pressure families are under today.
How the Survey Was Conducted
The research relied on a representative sample of French households. Researchers gathered responses between September 2 and September 15 from 2,000 households.
No margin of error was included alongside the findings. Even so, the scale of the sample offers a fairly clear snapshot of how French families are coping with rising electricity bills.
Akshay Didwaniya
Pratik Agrawal
Aditya Didwaniya
