As fuel prices hit record highs, debates are intensifying around the future of energy efficiency certificates (CEE), a program launched in 2005 to support France’s ecological transition. Bruno Retailleau, a presidential candidate from the center-right party Les Républicains (LR), has argued that eliminating CEE could save consumers about 8.5 euros per full tank of fuel. This estimate, based on calculations by the media outlet franceinfo, has sparked discussions about the program’s impact on household budgets. The CEE program operates on the principle that those who pollute should bear the cost of environmental initiatives. Under this system, energy suppliers and fuel distributors are required to fund energy-saving measures by offering incentives to individuals and businesses. To comply with regulations, these companies must accumulate a set number of CEEs, or face financial penalties. These costs are ultimately passed on to consumers, who paid an average of 164 euros per household in 2023 through energy bills and fuel purchases. The government sets the volume of CEE obligations annually, and the total budget for CEE projects is expected to grow to 8 billion euros by 2026, up from 6 billion in 2025. The cost per liter of fuel associated with CEE has also risen, from 11 cents in 2025 to between 15 and 17 cents in 2026, according to Ufip Energies et mobilités. Retailleau’s calculation of 8.5 euros in savings assumes a standard 50-liter fuel tank. His team has criticized the program for lacking transparency, citing reports from France’s Court of Auditors. Other figures have also called for changes to the CEE program. Michel-Edouard Leclerc, chairman of the retail chain E.Leclerc, has suggested suspending a portion of CEE funding, specifically the 20 cents per liter obligation. Fuel distributors had previously requested a temporary halt to the program. However, economists warn that eliminating CEE could require cutting funding from other ecological initiatives, such as the MaPrimeRénov program, which supports home energy efficiency upgrades. Retailleau’s team describes CEE as a “hidden tax” and proposes alternative funding mechanisms that would make ecological transition costs more transparent to consumers.