Renewable Energy Requirements Predicted To Spike French Electricity Bills by 30 Percent

Ouch

A new report by France's 'Commission de regulation de l'énergie' (Energy regulation commission) has revealed that consumers should expect a 30% increase in the cost of electricity by 2017.

More than one-third of that hike is accounted for by a doubling of the 'contribution au service public de l'électricité', a tarif which goes towards funding renewable energy development in France.

President of the energy watchdog, Philippe de Ladoucette, was blunt in his appraisal. "We are confronted with a reality. We can't have a policy of renewable energy development, but also tell you it will cost nothing," he told Europe 1 radio on Monday.