Millions of households across France are facing another blow to their purchasing power as the reference price for gas is set to rise by 5.8% on December 1 according to the Energy Regulation Commission.
France Faces Fourth Gas Price Hike as CRE Announces 5.8% Increase for December
The pricing benchmark used to guide suppliers and consumers—known as the reference gas sales price
(PRVG)—will climb to 206.26 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh) including all taxes, moving up from 194.90 euros per MWh in November as reported by BFM.
International Supply Disruptions Drive Surging Fuel Costs
Explaining the underlying drivers behind the surging costs, CRE President Emmanuelle Wargon pointed to external international pressures. We are subject to an international market price, we import 95% of our gas
, Emmanuelle Wargon told AFP cited by TF1 info. She added that the current pricing reflects restricted global supply stemming from ongoing disruptions linked to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the severe financial strain on consumers, the regulatory chief sought to reassure the public regarding physical fuel availability. When questioned on potential shortages, Wargon stated that the risk of supply disruption remains low for the upcoming winter season according to BFM coverage.
The question will be about prices, not volumes
, Emmanuelle Wargon emphasized, noting that both the regulator and supplying enterprises foresee no major security of supply hurdles in the months ahead.
Impact on Household Budgets and Annual Bills
The December adjustment directly targets approximately 6 million residential subscribers—representing roughly 60% of all residential gas accounts in France—who maintain contracts indexed to the changing monthly reference price reported TF1 info.
For consumers utilizing index-linked offers, the CRE calculates an average monthly bill increase of 16 euros including all taxes for December alone noted BFM. Conversely, the roughly 40% of households that secured fixed-price contracts by the end of 2025 will be shielded from this immediate surge according to TF1 info.
When evaluating the broader yearly outlook, the financial toll becomes starker. The CRE estimates that the total 2026 annual bill for an average consumer will increase by 11.8% compared to 2025, resulting in an additional cost of 143 euros reported TF1 info. For households that rely on gas explicitly for home heating, the per-kilowatt-hour rate under the GRDF grid structure climbs to 0.16896 euros, pushing annual heating-focused reference bills near 2,300 euros detailed Jechange.
Tariff Comparison and the Shift Against Electricity
Beginning in December, the reference price for gas dedicated to heating will reach 16.90 centimes per kilowatt-hour, surpassing the regulated electricity tariff for off-peak hours—fixed at 15.89 centimes since August—by 1.01 centimes per kWh reported Le Revenu. This crossover represents a first since the CRE introduced the reference price framework following the elimination of regulated gas sales tariffs in mid-2023 noted Le Revenu.
