This is that this is likely to complicate

A month after the publication of the report Champsaur, the Government is preparing a reform of electricity rates. Officially, it took no position on the conclusions of the report, including proposes to delete the regulated rates, except for individuals. He will not do that in June or July. And his first reaction was more than discrete. No official presentation, but a simple development of the report, a Friday afternoon. "We were rather surprised", recognizes a member of the commission chaired by Paul Champsaur, former President of the regulator (Arcep) telecommunications. In reality, the Government is working closely with parliamentarians and he hired formal discussions with the European Commission on how to evolve the French tariff system.

The timing is tight. The goal is to vote a text by the end of the year. For the sake of efficiency, the Government could give a member the mission to present a legislative proposal to the re-entry. The approach would be faster than a Bill. Jean-Claude Lenoir, UMP MP and member of the commission Champsaur, is already working on a text that remains to be finalized.

Maximum consensus

Regardless of the device selected on the form, the Government is seeking a maximum consensus on the merits. "It is not either a street dispute, but that all parties are in agreement, said a government source. Everything is question of safeguards. "This is that this is likely to complicate. Sensitive subjects are not lacking: the pace of reform, the level of prices, the practical modalities of access to nuclear for competitors to EDF. Interested parties have until Friday to participate in the public consultation on the report.

First delicate subject: the sale price of the current business. "Where the competition could not fully play its role, it would be useful to put a ceiling on the final sale price, not during a transition period of three or four years", believes Jean-Louis Schilansky, Chairman of the energy of the Medef Committee. Such a scenario would go in the direction of the parliamentarians, who are by nature very looking on electricity prices. Moreover, in times of crisis. "To ensure that the provisions of the Act does away not too many of the concerns of customers", recognizes Jean-Claude Lenoir, UMP MP and member of the commission Champsaur, which does not want prices fly as in 2004. But such ceiling seems difficult to accept for the European Commission, which conducts three procedures against the France and EDF electricity rates. For her, the liberalisation of the market is not compatible with regulated rates. Or limit sales prices would return essentially to administered prices.

Second problematic point: the Champsaur report advocates that the competitors of EDF can buy in good conditions of kilowatt hours of nuclear origin for the so-called "basic" needs (the application of the country beyond the peaks of consumption). This provision raises two questions: at what price and who would benefit "He must be sure that the wholesale price is at an acceptable level between 42 and 44 euros," warns Jean-Louis Schilansky. As beneficiaries, the Government intends to limit access to these providers in France, Poweo or Direct Energy, and for their hexagonal clients. "One cannot imagine an open window", indicates a close source from the folder. However, here again, the European Commission might interpret this as a destination clause and therefore an obstacle to the freedom of market.

In short, claimed safeguards here and there may complicate talks with Brussels. While even the Government wishes to take advantage of this reform to serve its dispute with the European Commission...