Millions of French households are grappling with soaring fuel prices on top of rising gas and domestic heating oil costs, but grouping together with neighbours, friends or even entire towns can help cut the bill, according to a report broadcast by TF1's evening news programme Le 20H.
Maxime de La Raudière, general director of the energy price comparison company Selectra, said the way to bring costs down is to compare the price per kilowatt hour charged by different suppliers, and to favour suppliers that produce their own energy rather than simply reselling it.
Domestic heating oil, known in France as fioul domestique, is used to heat homes that are not connected to the mains gas network, particularly in rural areas. The report said its price has risen alongside gas and fuel at the pump, adding to pressure on household budgets.
Comparing suppliers by the kilowatt hour
Comparing suppliers by the price they charge per kilowatt hour, rather than by a fixed monthly rate, allows customers to see the true cost of the energy they use and to switch to a cheaper provider. Selectra, a French company that runs a free online comparison service for household energy, telecoms and insurance contracts, has positioned this kind of comparison as one of the most effective ways for households to control rising bills.
Buyer collectives banding together
The report also pointed to buyer collectives that are organising to negotiate cheaper energy deals. According to a related TF1info report, some of these groups say they save at least 200 euros by pooling their purchasing power. Grouping demand in this way, whether among neighbours or across an entire municipality, allows a collective to negotiate on behalf of many households at once, giving them more bargaining power than they would have alone.
Rising costs at home and on the road
The recommendations come as households across France face rising fuel prices at the pump alongside increases in gas and domestic heating oil, all of which are needed to heat homes and run vehicles. The report was produced by TF1info's video editorial team and broadcast as part of Le 20H on 14 September 2026, in the channel's regular Conso et tendances, or Consumption and Trends, segment.
