The Senate has rejected a plan for a bonus/malus (surcharge) scheme on electricity and gas. Proposed by MP François Brottes and supported by the government, the law aims to persuade people to be more responsible in their energy use.
It would set a minimum amount needed for basic requirements - worked out according to region, family size and heating type - where people would pay a reduced tariff, but for heavier usage there would be two penalty levels where costs go up. The law also includes other measures such as extending the “social tariff” (special low energy rate for low-income families) to four million households instead of the current 1.2 million for electricity and 400,000 for gas.
The proposed law was attacked by both right-wing UMP members and by communists in the Senate, with detractors saying it is too complicated. It had been passed by MPs in the National Assembly on 5 October and is expected to ultimately go through as the MPs have the final say, though the opposition will slow the process down.
This is the first time that a law supported by the current government has been rejected by one of the houses of parliament.
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