French households are facing a fresh squeeze on their budgets as energy prices climb sharply, with the country's energy regulator confirming that gas bills will rise further within weeks. The Commission de Régulation de l'Énergie (CRE), France's energy regulator, announced that the reference price of gas will increase by 6.3% starting October 1, 2026.
The rise is being driven largely by geopolitical instability. Over recent weeks, conflicts in the Middle East and Russia have pushed up the cost of both gas and petrol, and economics journalist Nicolas Doze said the trend shows no sign of reversing.
Why prices keep climbing
Doze said the core issue lies with refined products, particularly kerosene and diesel. He explained that Russia and the Middle East are the two main suppliers of these refined products, but the Middle East is currently constrained and Russia has halted all diesel exports.
He warned that prices could still rise dramatically depending on how the various international conflicts develop, noting there is no ceiling in this market and that anything is possible. He pointed to 1973, when the price of a barrel of oil quadrupled, as evidence of how volatile energy markets can become.
Help for high-mileage drivers
Despite the upward trend, Doze said savings are still possible, starting with existing government aid for high-mileage drivers. He said the assistance remains capped at a maximum of 100 euros, and is only available to people earning below a monthly income threshold of 1,508 euros for a single person.
To qualify, applicants must travel at least 30 kilometres round trip to work, or cover 8,000 kilometres a year for professional reasons, according to Doze.
Buy heating oil now, expert advises
For households that heat their homes with fuel oil, Doze recommended stocking up as early as possible. He said late summer is still a period of relatively low demand, with the peak typically coming in November or December.
He said he had checked prices and found fuel oil currently costs 1,850 euros per 1,000 litres, which is 55% above the usual price. Even so, he said anyone planning to fill their tank would be better off doing so quickly rather than waiting until demand rises further.
What happens next
The 6.3% increase to France's reference gas price takes effect on October 1, 2026, as confirmed by the CRE. Doze's comments suggest households have a narrow window before winter heating demand pushes fuel oil prices even higher, while the broader trajectory of gas and petrol prices remains tied to how the conflicts in Russia and the Middle East unfold.
