The large distribution, which estimates that its energy bill could increase by 1,500 million euros per year, calls for the establishment of “an emergency regulated rate accessible to companies, while the crisis lasts”, on “2023 at least”, according to a press release on Wednesday.
“The current cost of energy (1,600 EUR/MWh) would mean an increase in the bill of food distributors of 1,500 million euros per year,” says the Perifem federation, which brings together all distribution actors to act in energy or environmental issues.
Wholesale electricity prices have eased from peaks reached late last week, but remain volatile.
“This figure could have a significant impact on prices, but also cause interruptions in the supply chain by stopping certain suppliers,” he says, and asks, on the one hand, that the ARENH ceiling be raised (the rate at which EDF’s competing suppliers repurchase their electricity) and on the other hand to the “establishment of an emergency regulated rate accessible to companies”.
Perifem asks that this measure be applied “for the duration of the crisis (at least 2023), at a level that reflects the average cost of electricity production.”
A “strategic and priority” activity
The federation of professionals in the agri-food industry (Ania) warned on Tuesday that, if the Government asked companies to save energy, it had to “take into account the strategic and priority nature of the activities of the agri-food sector.” .
“The use of gas and electricity are essential for the manufacturing ‘processes’, for food safety and for the processes of transformation and conservation of living and perishable raw materials,” said Ania.
Perifem had announced in mid-July “common and concrete measures” to be implemented from October 15 to deal with the “risk of power shortages” this winter, prompting many merchant federations to follow suit.
Specifically, the interested merchants undertake to turn off the illuminated signs as soon as the store closes, to systematically lower the light intensity before the arrival of the public or the ambient temperature of the points of sale.
Perifem estimates that the measures mentioned above should generate “up to 6% energy savings”. In an emergency, exceptional measures such as “lowering the temperature of all points of sale” to 17 degrees would allow “saving the energy produced by a ‘small’ nuclear power plant”, that is, a “reduction of 740 MW”.
Source: BFM TV
