French bakers challenge government limits on power bill cap

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – Bakers have filed a complaint with France’s top administrative court against a government cap on electricity bills for households and small businesses.

The Union of Independent Artisan Bakers (UDABI) said on Wednesday it has submitted an appeal to the French Council of State, challenging the limits imposed on who can benefit from the government’s tariff shield.

The tariff shield, extended by the government in January and in effect since February, caps the increase in electricity bills for households and small businesses at 15%, who would otherwise face a possible 120% hike.

However, for bakeries, it was only applied to businesses that have an electricity meter of less than 36 kVA.

The UDABI contends that the cap should be expanded to all bakeries.

Bakeries are already grappling with issues due to soaring costs of essential items such as butter and wheat, as well as the lingering impact of COVID-19 lockdowns, the union said.

The government’s decision has also created unnecessary and unwanted competition between bakers who have electricity meters that meet the requirement and those who do not, it added.