Rising gas and heating-oil prices are expected to make household energy bills more difficult to manage this winter. In a study by France’s National Energy Ombudsman, 86% of respondents said energy expenses placed a heavy burden on their budget.
The pressure has led Stéphane and Stéphanie Tenot, a couple in their fifties who run a saddlery from their home in Louzac-Saint-André, Charente, to stop using their oil-fired boiler for now. The price of domestic heating oil has risen by nearly 70% since the start of the year, and the couple say they can no longer afford to buy more.
They have about 300 litres of oil left from last year. This winter, they plan to rely on two reversible air-conditioning units, supplemented by portable electric heaters in the bedrooms at bedtime. They intend to buy another 400 or 500 litres if prices fall, Stéphane said, adding that people nearby are also watching costs closely.
The couple said they do not want to switch back to wood heating because of the smell of smoke on their clothes.
Sources: Le Figaro.