Press Release: State aid: Commission gives conditional approval to aid component in regulated electricity tariffs in France

The European Commission has approved the State aid contained in regulated electricity tariffs for large and medium-sized energy consumers in France, subject to compliance with certain conditions relating to the reform of the French electricity market, an annual review of the standard tariffs, and, subsequently, their disappearance at the end of 2015.

The tariffs in question are the “green” and “yellow” regulated standard tariffs for companies and the “TARTAM” tariffs (transitional market adjustment tariffs) that applied under the system in place between 2006 and 2011, now repealed. The Commission takes the view that the tariffs are compatible with the EU State aid rules in view of the fact that they will help to limit the power of the incumbent operator over a transitional period.