The energy check

Created to replace social energy tariffs, the energy check aims to combat the effects of energy poverty by offering modest households support for the payment of their energy bills. In today’s report, the Court of Auditors makes a set of findings which it considers to justify a reflection on the real nature of the system: in that sense, it notes, inter alia, that the only criterion adopted by the public authorities — the standard of living of household members — makes its targeting poor. Moreover, the fact that the cheque can finance any type of energy goes against France’s climate objectives, as it also subsidises the use of carbon and decarbonised energy. In addition to a parametric evolution of the energy check and the strengthening of its coherence, the Court proposes three possible scenarios, depending on a clarification of the objectives pursued.