French President Emmanuel Macron is convening a meeting of the French Defense and Security Council due to the crisis in the energy sector, BFMTV reports, citing sources.
The meeting of the council, which will be chaired by Macron, will address the situation with gas supplies and the increase in electricity prices on the eve of winter.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Born, Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, and Energy Transformation Minister Agnès Pannier-Runachet will attend the meeting together with Macron.
Earlier French media reported that the wholesale price of electricity in the country could reach a record high in 2023, exceeding the mark of 1,000 euros per megawatt-hour, more than 1,000% compared to a year earlier.
At the end of July, French Cabinet spokesman Olivier Veran said that France was in an “unprecedentedly difficult” situation in terms of electricity generation. French authorities have already taken several drastic measures to save energy.
For this purpose, the country expanded the ban on illuminated advertising, and shops were forbidden to keep the doors open when the air conditioner or heating system is running.
Retail outlets must turn off illuminated signs and air ventilation at night, dim lighting by 50% before customers arrive, and by 30% during normal hours in case of a critical level of power consumption.
Despite the intense heat, the government also urged citizens not to abuse the air conditioners.