Business · Energy & Commodities · 4 hrs ago
French households look for ways to cut gas bills after prices rise 40.8%
Gas prices in France have risen 40.8% since January, and another 6.6% increase is expected in November.
Some households are seeking ways to limit the effect on their bills.
One consumer switched to a gas contract with a fixed price for two years and estimates it will save him about 200 euros a year compared with a non-fixed tariff.
Another replaced gas heating with an electric heat pump, spending about 10,000 euros and estimating annual savings of 2,000 euros.
Demand for heat pumps has increased, with one installer reporting more than 25% more requests than in 2025 and a further rise since September.
The heat-pump industry aims to triple production by 2030, reaching one million units a year.
French gas prices have risen 40.8% since January, prompting some households to seek ways to reduce their bills.
Retiree Christophe Vanheule switched to a fixed-price gas contract that he says could save him €200 a year.
Denis Chauvin replaced gas with an electric heat pump and estimates his annual costs fell by €2,000.
An installer reported more than 25% additional heat-pump requests compared with 2025, with a further increase since September.
The heat-pump industry plans to triple production by 2030, reaching one million units a year.
- Who
- French households seeking to reduce gas bills, including retirees Christophe Vanheule and Denis Chauvin.
- What
- Consumers are using fixed-price contracts, changing suppliers or replacing gas boilers with electric heat pumps to limit costs.
- When
- The report was published on 12 October 2026; gas prices had risen 40.8% since January.
- Where
- France.
- Why
- Gas prices have risen, including a further 6.6% increase expected in November.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Christophe Vanheule changed to a fixed-price gas contract, and Denis Chauvin switched to an electric heat pump.
Gas prices rose by 40.8%.
Heat-pump requests rebounded by more than 35% following the latest gas price increases, according to installer Ruben Koskas.
franceinfo published its report on ways to reduce gas bills.
A further 6.6% gas price increase was expected.
- Gas price rise
- 40.8% since January
- Vanheule’s fixed contract
- €440 annual subscription; fixed for two years
- Vanheule’s estimated saving
- €200 a year
- Chauvin’s heat pump
- About €10,000 paid by him; estimated annual costs fell from €3,900 to €1,900
- Heat-pump demand
- More than 25% higher than in 2025; more than 35% higher since September
- Industry target
- One million heat pumps a year by 2030
What people are saying
If I had stayed on the current unfixed rate, my bill would be around 640 euros, meaning an overall annual saving of 200 euros.
I went from 3,900 to 1,900 euros. We free up 2,000 euros a year, and we have about 10,000 euros to pay ourselves. So in five years, it will have paid for itself.
Today, compared with 2025, we have more than 25% additional requests, and since September we have had a rebound of more than 35% in requests following the latest increases.
Sources
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