Gas prices to rise in October for around six million households in France

Millions of households in France are about to see their gas bills rise again from October 1, as the monthly reference gas price increases by 6.3%.

The rise will affect around six million households, or approximately 60% of residential gas subscribers, whose contracts are indexed to the Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE)'s reference price.

The CRE's reference price acts as a benchmark to help consumers compare gas offers and is used by suppliers to set their prices. 

The increase follows a 5.6% rise in September and is part of a longer-term trend linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its impact on global fuel supplies. 

The reference gas price has generally been rising significantly since April after the US and Israel's conflict with Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted oil and gas shipments from the Middle East.

The reference price jumped from €152.86/MWh in June to €172.05/MWh in September and €182.88/MWh in October - an increase of almost 20%. 

According to CRE figures shown below, the latest increase represents the highest benchmark at least since January 2024.

This latest increase is linked to higher gas prices on wholesale markets in August compared with July, the CRE said.

What will it mean for households?

The CRE estimates that households with contracts indexed to its reference price will pay an average of €5.28 more on their October bill, including VAT.

Households with fixed-price gas contracts will not be affected. Around 40% of residential gas customers had fixed-price contracts at the end of 2025, according to the CRE.

For the rest, the impact on individual bills will depend on the supplier and contract. 

The CRE estimates that, if market conditions remain broadly stable until the end of 2026, the average annual gas bill could be around 10% higher than in 2025 or about €120 more including VAT.

What can households do?

Households affected by the increase can take a few steps to limit the impact on their bills.

The simplest is to reduce gas consumption where possible. These are mostly straightforward: lower the heating by one or two degrees, use less hot water when washing or showering and avoid unnecessary use of a gas cooker - this can help reduce consumption.

Another thing to consider is improving the energy efficiency of your home, for example by replacing an older gas boiler with a more efficient heating system. While this can be expensive, it could reduce energy costs in the long term. 

Another option is to compare gas contracts and consider switching to a fixed-price offer.

Unlike contracts linked to the CRE's reference price, which can change as wholesale gas prices move, a fixed-price contract keeps the price of gas at a set level for the length of the contract. 

This provides protection if market prices rise, although the fixed rate may be higher than the current market price when the contract is taken out.

Consumers should therefore compare the full terms and prices of available offers before switching.

France's regulated gas tariffs ended in 2023, so households are free to compare offers from different suppliers.