At a time of worsening fuel poverty, this observation raises questions about the accessibility of this vital aid. Accessibility is made more complicated by the government itself, and by a housing tax reform where it does not expect some clear effects. So what exactly happened? Lack of information, administrative complexity, or a deliberate desire to limit access?
2024 energy review: important help, but largely unused
The energy audit, for an amount of up to 277 euros, should reduce the burden of electricity, gas and even fuel bills for low-income households. Even better, it can cost energy conversion work to keep costs down. More than good news since, on the other hand, the government plans a increase in VAT on some boilers which will lead to price increase.
So an energy audit is a valuable help, especially in times of rising electricity and gas prices. But here it is: of the 5.5 million beneficiaries announced this year 2024, nearly one million households have not taken steps to obtain it.
Why such a blockage? The elimination of the housing tax, which once made it easier to identify qualified households, made identification more complicated.. Now, the administration cross-references tax and energy data to allocate this aid, but this mechanism has limitations. Result: forgotten houses and additional procedures for those who, for example, have recently qualified.
A race against time: only a few days before the end of the 2024 energy audit
The urgency is here: the online complaints portal opened last July, will close its doors on December 31, 2024. A few clicks are enough to make the request, but you still need to know. Because the procedure, although simplified on paper, remains out of reach for many, especially the most vulnerable households or those who are not at all aware of their eligibility. Not to mention households with IT difficulties or no Internet connection, as is the case with many elderly people.
To assert their rights, households must provide their tax number, an identity document and a recent energy bill. A formality for some, but a hindrance for others. And every day that passes reduces their chances of getting this help. The amount varies depending on income and household composition: from 48 euros for the most moderate to 277 euros for large families, with an average of 150 euros.
An organized exodus to save the State money?
More than a simple technical problem, some criticize a real government strategy to limit access to energy audits. The Abbé Pierre Foundation does not hesitate to talk about the “voluntary complexity of governance”. According to Manuel Domergue, his director of studies interviewed by BFMTVthis system, although designed to combat energy poverty, has become a headache for households that need it most. He even mentioned a “non-recourse rate of 50%, or more”.
How can such a situation be justified? On the one hand, the government emphasized the need to adjust the criteria for the loss of housing tax. On the other hand, associations focus on a budget logic that sacrifices the most dangerous. A million potential beneficiaries are left on the sidelines, doesn’t that sound like saving on the back of the most deprived? Because the calculation is easy: with an energy check worth 150 euros on average, 1 million fewer beneficiaries means 150 million euros saved at your fingertips. In a time of budget austerity, it certainly makes sense.
Energy analysis: a war that has just begun
While the energy audit should contain an immediate and effective response to domestic difficulties, it has become a symbol of administrative dysfunction. And the prospects are not encouraging. The 2025 budget could even change the rules of the game, making aid less accessible, according to some observers.
But the time has not yet come for future reforms. The challenge now is to save what can be saved. Eligible households have until December 31, 2024 to act. After this deadline, thousands of households are at risk of losing this important help, because they are unable to navigate an administrative labyrinth. Unless, as some rumors suggest, the government has extended the deadline for making the request. A possibility that, so far, has not been confirmed.
If you are affected or know loved ones who may be, let them know. The aid of 150 euros, or even 277 euros, is a breath of fresh air for families who are overwhelmed by bills. But for this to happen, we must act, and quickly.