France is launching a social leasing program for heat pumps on October 1st, as part of its effort to move away from fossil fuels and toward cleaner energy sources. This initiative, first announced in April of last year, seeks to assist low-income households in replacing traditional gas or oil boilers with heat pumps, which are more energy-efficient and produce fewer emissions. The program is specifically aimed at homeowners of individual houses with very low or low incomes, such as a couple with a child in the Île-de-France region earning up to 4,750 euros per month combined. The program offers a comprehensive package that includes assessing the appropriate size of the heat pump for the home, installation by certified professionals, a direct discount on the cost from the start, a fixed-rate loan for the remaining expenses, a three-year maintenance contract, and a fixed-price electricity plan for the same period. Six companies have been selected to participate, including Cofidis, IZI by EDF, Octopus, Hello Watt, Engie, and TotalEnergies. Funding for the program comes from energy savings certificates (CEE), which require major energy providers like EDF, Engie, and TotalEnergies to finance home renovations or face financial penalties. The average financial support per household could be as high as 9,800 euros, with a total budget of 540 million euros allocated for the initiative. According to the Ministry of Energy, heat pumps are nearly three times more efficient than traditional fossil fuel boilers, and on average, they can reduce energy bills by 50%. However, the French Association for Heat Pumps (Afpac), as reported by the consumer advocacy group Que Choisir, points out that the current offers do not emphasize the need for adequate home insulation before installing a heat pump. If a home has excessive thermal loss, the program will direct those households to FranceRénov', a government service that helps with larger renovation projects. The government has set a goal of equipping 55,000 homes with heat pumps by 2028. Additionally, it plans to move up the payment of the energy check to January, rather than the usual April, to provide earlier financial support for energy-related expenses.