Unions ready to complain against “Bracing” of EDF electricity to competition

The four union federations representative of energy want to file a complaint with Brussels for illegal State aid for the benefit of competition. An action for EDF shareholder employees intend to associate.

by

After a very followed strike day at the end of January against “the ramping of the public service”, the four union federations representative of energy intend to carry their dispute before the European Commission. In a communiqué transmitted to the world, the four (CGT, CFE-CGC, CFDT and FO) announce their intention to file a complaint in the coming days, possibly from Monday, March 14, for illegal State aid for the benefit of competition. A complaint to which EDF shareholder employees intend to associate.

While denouncing the effects of liberalization imposed in Europe, the unions have to turn to their advantage a sacrosan-saint principle of the European Commission. That of tracing any public support likely to distort competition from the common market. They want to ask Brussels to “open a formal review procedure against the French government”, “suspend” the aid announced by the State in January (but without decree or arrested so far), and to support future remedies “before the French courts”.

In the middle of the European crisis of energy prices, the government announced it, in January, three months from the presidential election: in order to keep its promise to limit to 4% (instead of 44% excluding tax) In February, the rise in regulated electricity rates for households and industrialists, the State decided to force EDF, of which it is the majority shareholder, coming to the relief … competition. The measure focuses on the company’s “blue tariff”, which are subscribed a majority of households, and from which the competition tariffs are indexed.

Enjoy the historic provider

Since a 2010 law, EDF has already obliged to yield at a fixed price for competition part of its nuclear production. This is the principle of the Arenh, regulated access to historical nuclear power. A challenged principle not only by the employees but also by the direction of EDF. It allows about forty alternative suppliers, including the Total Energies Major, to enjoy the Historical Provider without the need to produce anything.

For the current year, the government now wants to raise the ceiling, to increase from 100 to 120 terawatt hours (TWh). The electrician will therefore be forced to “brader” between 38% and 41% of its nuclear power, since EDF provides for French production for the current year between 295 and 315 TWh – historically low level for three decades, particularly because of reactors at the stop for maintenance or problems.

You have 57.7% of this article to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.

/Media reports.