Background information

Supporting businesses whose gas and electricity costs represent a high proportion of their expenses. This is the objective of the aid set up by the Government as part of the economic and social resilience plan.

The aim of this aid is to mitigate the effects of the energy crisis, to support the competitiveness of companies and to avoid production stoppages at the sites that consume the most gas and electricity, particularly those providing essential production. It is a temporary, targeted and capped emergency aid.

Content of measure

The scheme targets companies whose gas and electricity purchases amounted to at least 3% of their turnover in 2021 and which experience a doubling of their unit cost of electricity or gas purchases (in euros/MWh).

The aid compensates for a share of the eligible costs, i.e. the additional costs of gas or electricity compared to 2021 beyond this doubling. Depending on the company's situation, the aid will be granted in the following ways:

• aid equal to 30% of the eligible costs, with a ceiling of €2 million, for companies whose gross operating surplus (GOS) falls by 30% compared to 2021.
• aid equal to 50% of eligible costs, with a ceiling of €25 million, for firms with a negative EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) and losses of up to twice the eligible costs. The aid is limited to 80% of the amount of losses.
• aid equal to 70% of eligible costs, with a ceiling of €50 million, for companies which meet the same criteria as above and which operate in one of the sectors most exposed to international competition. The aid is limited to 80% of the amount of these losses.

For companies which are part of a group, the amount of the aid ceilings will be assessed at group level. Compliance with the eligibility criteria relating to electricity and gas expenditure, EBITDA and eligible costs will be verified and calculated by a trusted third party (accountant or auditor).

The scheme will open in the second half of June for applications for the first quarterly eligible period March-April-May. An application for the second eligible period June-July-August will be opened later.

Use of measure

Not available yet.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Companies providing essential services Other businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Sectoral social partner have been consulted to design the measures (mainly employers' organisations).

Views and reactions

The measures were supported by the main sectoral social partners.

Sources

• 12 May 2022: Ukraine : une aide aux entreprises grandes consommatrices de gaz et d’électricité (www.economie.gouv.fr)
• 01 July 2022: Décret n° 2022-967 du 1er juillet 2022 instituant une aide visant à compenser la hausse des coûts d'approvisionnement de gaz naturel et d'électricité des entreprises particulièrement affectées par les conséquences économiques et financières de la guerre en Ukraine (www.legifrance.gouv.fr)
• 23 September 2022: Décret n° 2022-1250 du 23 septembre 2022 modifiant le décret n° 2022-967 du 1er juillet 2022 instituant une aide visant à compenser la hausse des coûts d'approvisionnement de gaz naturel et d'électricité des entreprises particulièrement affectées par les conséquences économiques et financières de la guerre en Ukraine (www.legifrance.gouv.fr)
• 30 September 2022: Décret n° 2022-1279 du 30 septembre 2022 modifiant le décret n° 2022-967 du 1er juillet 2022 instituant une aide visant à compenser la hausse des coûts d'approvisionnement de gaz naturel et d'électricité des entreprises particulièrement affectées par les conséquences économiques et financières de la guerre en Ukraine (www.legifrance.gouv.fr)
• 16 December 2022: Décret n° 2022-1575 du 16 décembre 2022 modifiant le décret n° 2022-967 du 1er juillet 2022 instituant une aide visant à compenser la hausse des coûts d'approvisionnement de gaz naturel et d'électricité des entreprises particulièrement affectées par les conséquences économiques et financières de la guerre en Ukraine (www.legifrance.gouv.fr)
• 02 February 2023: Aide « gaz et électricité » : simplification et prolongation jusqu'à fin 2023 (entreprendre.service-public.fr)