Precariousness: the Abbé Pierre Foundation greets "a historic day" after the announcement by EDF of the cessation of electricity cuts for unpaid

"It is a historic day, a real success, a step forward" for the most precarious, salutes Friday November 12 on Franceinfo Manuel Domergue, director of studies of the Abbé Pierre Foundation, after the announcement by EDF of the judgmentElectricity cuts for its customers in unpaid situations throughout the year.These have already been prohibited since 2008 and for all electricity suppliers since the adoption of a winter break law.In place of these cuts, the company will reduce the power provided to these customers, so as to guarantee a minimum service while pushing them to pay their invoices.

In 2019, 280,000 households were deprived of electricity for unpaid, all suppliers combined, according to the national energy mediator.The latter, Olivier Challan Belval, defended this Wednesday before the National Assembly Committee on Wednesday, the establishment of a "right to a minimum electricity supply" for the most precarious households.Manuel Domergue thus calls on other electricity suppliers to follow the example of EDF.

Franceinfo: The Abbé Pierre Foundation claims the end of electricity cuts, whatever the season, for several years.EDF is going in the right direction?

Manuel Domergue: It is a historic day, a real success for millions of households who live with the sword of Damocles in the event of unpaid, no longer having light and therefore electricity.It means it's over, they will always have light, whatever happens.Enough to recharge your phone, your computer, enough to keep food or medication in the fridge.So it's a very important day.Obviously, this is not a victory that will solve all the problems.But it feels like we still took a step forward in dignity.But this only concerns two thirds of households.It is also necessary that the other electricity suppliers are committed, and for them, it is not a very important financial effort.Because in the end, households that are already applied to a power reduction instead of a cut regularize their situation, as when you cut them.It is already a fairly important signal for a household to have a power reduction.It's really not the luxury of living with 1,000 or 2,000 watts.

Can't heat up with 1,000 or 2,000 watts?

It's really a minimum measure, and that is why I say that it is not an extraordinary victory either.This is the minimum that society owes to everyone, good or bad payers.Whatever happens, minimum electricity coverage, minimum service.Indeed, you cannot heat up, when you have an electric heating, with 1,000 or 2,000 watts.There are also a lot of household appliances that require power, and which will not be able to walk.So it's still a strong punishment.And that is also to say that people will not be unleashed, if there was this fear.No person who has the means to pay his electricity bill will have fun staying with 1,000 watts, because we do not live well with.

How to push other suppliers to follow the example of EDF?Is it necessary a law establishing a minimum right of access to electricity?

Today, there are two suppliers who no longer cut electricity.A very small supplier, PLüm energy [which claims 90,000 customers], and now EDF.If others do not want to go, there is only the law that can bring them there.Next week, we have a meeting organized by the Ministry of Energy Transition, with suppliers, Enedis and the Abbé Pierre Foundation.The subject will undoubtedly be addressed.Afterwards, one might think that EDF's training effect may bring other suppliers, both for image reasons, and then also for commercial reasons, to follow the operator.Perhaps households will go to EDF rather than competing suppliers because they know that in the event of a glitch, EDF will not exhaust them with the light.