Question 15990 — energy and fuels

Summary

Mr. Dominique Potier draws the attention of the Minister of State, Minister for Ecological and Inclusive Transition, to securing the energy saving certificate system. France's situation in terms of energy transition is far from satisfactory. Article 7 of European Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency requires Member States to reduce their energy consumption by 1.5% per year (excluding transport sector). However, France is falling behind on its objectives: in 2017, according to the Climate-Energy Observatory, France exceeded its final energy consumption objective by 4.2%. In this context, the renovation of the building stock, which represents 45% of the country's energy consumption, is a major issue. Among the support mechanisms for the energy renovation of buildings (tax credit for the transition energy, zero-rate eco-loan, value added tax at 5.5% for work to improve energy quality, aid from the “Living Better” program of the National Housing Agency, energy check, exemption from property tax for energy saving work, etc.), energy savings certificates (CEE) constitute a powerful mass tool in favor of the fight against energy poverty. So, with a target of 1,600 TWh cumac of energy savings, including 400 TWh cumac for the benefit of households experiencing energy poverty, the amount of obligations weighing on energy suppliers for the period 2018 and 2020 is estimated at nearly 9 billion euros, or approximately ten times the annual cost of the tax credit for the energy transition (879 million euros in 2019). From 2006 to 2014, the General Directorate of Energy and of the climate estimates that the CEE system has contributed to the financing of energy saving work to the tune of 24 billion euros. The system is particularly advantageous for the five million households in a situation of fuel poverty (according to figures from the National Energy Poverty Observatory) thanks to the establishment of so-called “precariousness” CEEs and it has sought since January 1, 2018 to achieve the objective eradication of fuel poverty in ten years. The security of the system, particularly with regard to the most vulnerable for attic insulation work, is however called into question following scandals denounced by TRACFIN in 2016. Although these frauds only concern a marginal proportion, they nevertheless constitute a direct threat to the CEE system, by weakening both its credibility and its effectiveness. The obliged who have purchased EECs issued on a fraudulent basis may also be exposed to late cancellation of the EECs, which generates insecurity that is all the greater as the sums involved are significant. The Government reacted by establishing systematic field control, by a control body, of hot water network insulation operations as well as an experiment since April 1, 2018 with random controls on 5 to 10% of attic insulation projects carried out for the benefit of households experiencing energy poverty. He also announced that he was considering, based on feedback, a possible generalization of on-site controls by a third party from 2019. However, systematic field control will not restore the legitimate confidence in the system that it should have. This measure indeed risks to be ineffective in securing the system, on the one hand because generalized on-site checks represent a cost for those obliged, who will ultimately pass it on to the consumer. On the other hand, since the control of the eligibility of an energy efficiency action is carried out after the action has been carried out, there is a risk of refusal to pay EECs which could have budgetary consequences for the household. Instead that such a measure, the establishment of a quality process detailing according to a rigorous procedure all the points to be verified for the EEC application file to be validated by the national center for energy savings certificates would be more effective. Thus, he asks him to consider the idea of ​​labeling a quality process, in order to guarantee the professionalism of CEE certifiers and to clean up an efficient market. and committing France to respect its international climate commitments.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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