CRE raises gas price reference

The energy regulation commission (CRE) announced a 6.6% increase in the reference gas price for November compared to its level in October. This follows multiple increases in recent months, driven by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Many households tied to reference price

As of June 30, 2026, 6 million households had offers indexed to the reference price or to the wholesale market prices. These contracts are linked to the CRE’s monthly published indicator, meaning their prices rise along with it.

Fixed-price offers avoid monthly increases

To avoid the November increase, households can subscribe to offers with a fixed tax-excluded price per kWh. This prevents them from being affected by the monthly fluctuations in wholesale gas prices, but they must switch before the end of the month.

Flexibility in fixed-price contracts

Fixed-price contracts are not permanent. If gas prices drop in the future, customers can change their offer. The supplier is bound by the fixed-price period, but the customer can switch offers at any time without fees or service interruption.

EDF offers the cheapest fixed-rate option

On Friday, October 16, EDF provided the cheapest fixed-rate gas offer for a household in Rennes using 17,000 kWh annually with heating. The estimated annual bill was 2,623 euros, compared to 2,835 euros with the October reference price and 3,040 euros with the November reference price.

Market offers vary in price and conditions

During the second quarter of 2026, an average of 15 suppliers offered 36 different natural gas supply options. Of these, 61% included fixed prices, while 26% were linked to the CRE’s reference price, according to the energy regulator’s Retail Market Observatory.