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In 2010, Nicolas Sarkozy signed a law to liberalize the market due to pressure from the European Commission, which threatened France with a €20 billion fine for unfair competition because of its low electricity prices. As a result, an artificial market was created with 125 alternative suppliers. This has led to EDF accumulating €64 billion in debt. The speaker argues that this system is unsustainable, as the main competitor sells its production at the same price to all its rivals without going bankrupt. They suggest removing these alternative suppliers to stop the increasing costs for consumers.

The speaker explains that the electricity market in Europe has favored the German system, which relies on gas, and disadvantaged the French system. This was not initially noticeable because gas prices were low. However, with the war in Ukraine and sanctions, gas prices started to rise. The speaker also mentions that the Americans wanted to promote their more expensive shale gas, which further contributed to the price increase. As a result, the French, who primarily rely on cheap nuclear energy, are now facing higher electricity prices and are stuck in this situation.

The speakers discuss the importance of successfully transitioning to clean energy and the need for strong decisions. They mention the plan to reduce nuclear power to 50% by 2035, which would involve closing 14 reactors. The first speaker confirms the government's intention to fully own EDF, which would help the company carry out ambitious projects. The second speaker believes that having 50% nuclear power is not a security issue and highlights that France is the only country with 72% of its electricity coming from nuclear sources.

This is the story of a decline. After World War II, France created Électricité de France (EDF), a national public company that became a global leader in the nuclear power program. EDF became the world's largest electricity producer, while GDF Suez (now Engie) became the second largest. However, in the 1990s, the European Union introduced liberalization directives, which led to the introduction of competition in the electricity sector. This resulted in higher prices as intermediaries bought electricity from EDF at low prices and sold it at market rates. The creation of a European electricity market further complicated matters, as the cost of the last power plant turned on determined the prices.

The increase in prices is due to the fact that electricity prices are currently linked to gas prices. France is working at the European level to ensure that electricity prices are no longer dependent on gas prices. However, it is important to note that the surge in electricity prices in September and October was not solely because of the gas prices, but also because of the fear of a potential electricity supply shortage. This fear led consumers to be willing to pay more to ensure they wouldn't experience any power cuts. This situation is also related to the state of France's nuclear power plants and the efforts made to prepare for winter and lower prices, which are now showing positive results.

EDF is facing financial difficulties, so the speaker supports its renationalization. They believe that privatization should only happen when a company is doing well. The speaker also wants EDF to merge with Enedis and disconnect from the European market's pricing system, which is causing small businesses to struggle. They mention petitions signed by thousands of entrepreneurs who are struggling financially. The speaker emphasizes that this issue is important and calls for support. They give examples of companies like Michelin, whose electricity bills have skyrocketed, and warn that if the situation continues, companies may relocate outside of France. The speaker points out that Spain and Portugal have disconnected from the pricing system and have reasonable electricity prices.

The French government is in a battle with Germany over their differing energy models. France relies on nuclear power, while Germany promotes intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar, coupled with gas and coal. France wants nuclear power to be included in the EU's renewable energy objectives, but Germany is actively discriminating against it. German-funded foundations and NGOs are working to undermine the French nuclear industry. France has been slow to recognize Germany's determination, but recently formed an alliance with 16 countries to promote nuclear power in Europe. However, there is still a lack of understanding in France about the ongoing energy war between the two countries.

EDF, the cheapest energy provider in Europe, has successfully met all challenges and achieved a remarkable advantage in greenhouse gas emissions. However, there was a need to establish a market price, even though there was no market. This price was based on gas, despite not using it, because Germany does. The obsession for the past thirty years has been to dismantle EDF, and they have succeeded. The absurdity of selling one's own production to virtual competitors with no production obligations is surreal. EDF has few competitors, mainly some scattered wind turbines and solar fields, which is laughable.

There will be no privatization of EDF and Gaz de France. It is clear and straightforward. EDF and Gaz de France need to be able to compete on equal terms with their competitors.

The speaker discusses the loyalty project and its connection to Brussels. They explain that Brussels has no legitimacy in this matter and that they use the queen to pass through the regulated access to historical nuclear energy. This access requires EDF to sell energy to its competitors at a fixed price of 42 euros per terawatt-hour, which has not been changed since 2011. The speaker argues that this price is now suicidal for EDF and that if they want to change it, they must get approval from the commission. The speaker criticizes this process as mafia-like and emphasizes that if EDF wants to increase the price, they must dismantle. They also express frustration with the claim that these people are liberals, as selling energy at market prices would solve many issues.

EDF, a French public company, was created in 1946 to unify electricity production, transportation, and supply. They successfully electrified France and became one of the top global exporters. EDF had a monopoly, meaning French citizens had to go to them for electricity, eliminating the need for marketing. This allowed EDF to plan long-term electricity production and finance large infrastructure projects like nuclear power plants. The stability of their customer base and pricing further supported their planning. However, there were efforts by financial interests to privatize EDF's profits. These efforts gained momentum with the introduction of European free trade treaties and laws in the 2000s, such as the NOM law in 2010, which opened up electricity suppliers to competition.

I apologize, Mr. President, but I cannot stay silent. You have broken regulated energy tariffs, liberalized the market, and created a system that demands EDF to give 25% of nuclear energy funds to its competitors. Twelve years later, they haven't invested a single euro. During the lockdown, when the free market dropped to 21 euros, they all went to court to exit. But when the market went above 40 euros after the lockdown, they came back demanding more volume. This is not consumer protection; it's organized exploitation. The CRE estimated that over 60% of regulated tariff increases were driven by alternative actors wanting to compete with EDF. This system has been exploiting EDF for 12 years, and you continue to support it. They don't even respect the contract, yet you give them more. They are sharks, always ready to feast on others' expense.

We are in a serious situation that is harming the country's interests. Last week, there was a power outage, and the losses for EDF can be estimated. The RTE report shows the electricity production, consumption, and exports. Due to reactor shutdowns, EDF should have earned €22 billion. Additionally, EDF is obligated to sell electricity to competitors at €42 per megawatt-hour, resulting in a loss of €28 billion. EDF is also required to buy wind-generated electricity at €91 per megawatt-hour but cannot resell it, costing the state €7 billion. In total, the losses amount to €57 billion. If everything had gone perfectly, EDF would have earned €40 billion last year.

The speaker discusses how the French government is subsidizing the electricity market instead of decoupling it from financial markets. They argue that this decision will have terrible consequences for the country's electricity production and market. The solution proposed is the complete nationalization of EDF and reinvestment in the energy mix. The speaker also suggests the idea of socializing the use of pallet fires as a way to cope with the situation. They encourage viewers to share this information to resist government propaganda and defend their interests. The speaker thanks the Socialize Energy Collective for their support and mentions their goal of advocating for the nationalization of EDF.

If everything had gone perfectly, EDF could have earned an additional 28 billion euros by selling electricity at 42 euros per megawatt-hour. However, they are obligated to buy wind-generated electricity at 91 euros per megawatt-hour and cannot resell it at the market price of 57 billion euros. Last year, EDF made a profit of 40 billion euros, but if they didn't have to buy wind-generated electricity, they could have made even more.

In 2010, Nicolas Sarkozy signed a law to liberalize the market due to pressure from the European Commission, which threatened France with a €20 billion fine for unfair competition because of our low electricity prices. This led to the creation of an artificial market with 125 alternative suppliers, who don't produce electricity but provide bills. It's strange that EDF, the main competitor, has lost €20 billion and now has €64 billion in debt. This system needs to end because it's not realistic for the main competitor to sell electricity to all its rivals at its production cost without going bankrupt. The more alternative suppliers there are, the more expensive electricity becomes.

The price of gas and electricity in Europe has skyrocketed due to sanctions against Russia and the dependence on gas power plants. Private electricity providers in France are forced to buy expensive property titles on the European market to maintain their customer base, resulting in higher electricity bills. Unregulated private providers are putting millions of French citizens in financial trouble. This situation benefits financial giants at the expense of the real economy. Some companies, like Hyberdrola, have even asked their customers to switch to EDF to avoid purchasing electricity on the market. As more people turn to EDF for regulated tariffs, the company will have to share its electricity with a larger customer base. However, due to a lack of investment in power plants and renewable energy, EDF's production is decreasing while the number of customers is increasing, leading to a shortage of electricity.

In 2007, alternative electricity providers emerged, sourcing their energy from European exchanges. However, they were not growing fast enough. In 2011, a mechanism called "l'arène" was implemented, forcing EDF to sell a quarter of its nuclear energy at a price lower than its production cost. This created an asymmetry where EDF takes investment risks while subsidizing its competitors. In 2022, the government demanded that EDF increase its nuclear electricity volume to contain tariff hikes. However, the promised 20 terawatt-hours were already sold, forcing EDF to buy its own electricity at a higher market price and resell it to competitors at a much lower price. This situation has not benefited EDF, consumers, or the energy transition. Many suppliers have suspended their offers, gone bankrupt, or ceased operations due to soaring electricity and gas prices. The French struggle to understand these price increases as electricity in France is mainly nuclear-based. They feel imposed upon by European rules and false competition, which results in energy prices from countries that have failed in their energy policies.

EDF produces 80% of the electricity in France, and their winter production is almost sufficient. There is no need to buy electricity from intermediaries or the market. The government's decision to maintain these laws is creating a major energy crisis in France. We could have been one of the few European countries to withstand sanctions, but now we might sink like the others. The solution is to reestablish EDF's monopoly so that everyone buys electricity directly from them. This should have been done years ago, especially when sanctions were imposed on Russia. The government's failure to anticipate the price surge proves their incompetence in managing our interests. They cannot blame Putin; it is their fault.

Technically, nothing changes in the electricity production and distribution process. The idea of private suppliers and property rights is just an accounting illusion that costs EDF over eight billion euros annually. This decision was made by the government to create a financial class of private electricity suppliers who profit without investing. In 2022, the government increased the electricity quota for EDF, forcing them to buy electricity they themselves produced at a higher price and sell it to private suppliers at a loss. This accounting operation cost EDF 28 billion euros, which could have been used for energy transition and maintenance. As a result, EDF is in a financial crisis, requiring regular capital injections from the government and neglecting nuclear plant maintenance. This has led to losing international contracts to the Russian state-owned company, Rosatom.

The French government is facing a technical issue with the number of nuclear power plants being shut down for maintenance, which threatens electricity production this winter. The government is holding secret meetings to prepare for the worst and is even considering bypassing nuclear regulations to ensure production. However, the problem is not just technical but also political. The lack of funding for building renovations and the neglect of old nuclear plants are political decisions that have contributed to the crisis. The government has been aware of the situation for eight years but has done nothing to address it. The energy deficit can be compensated by finding money, possibly from companies that have profited during the crisis. Other European countries have taxed energy companies' super profits, so why not France? Instead, the government is preparing for rationing and planning to lower electricity taxes using dividends from EDF, a company on the verge of bankruptcy that relies on billions of capital injections from the French government.

The speaker discusses the impact of the ARENNE, a policy that allows private suppliers to receive a portion of EDF's electricity production. This means that EDF's share of the electricity production becomes smaller, while private suppliers still receive a significant portion. With an increasing number of customers leaving for private suppliers, EDF is left with fewer resources to meet demand. If the law is not changed, EDF will have to buy electricity from the market at a high cost to supply its customers, resulting in significant financial losses. This situation will lead to a loss of customers for private suppliers, who may go bankrupt. EDF will then have to buy back its own electricity from the market at a much higher price, causing substantial financial losses.

In France, the speaker explains that the country operates under a neoliberal system rather than a liberal one. They argue that when financiers cannot win through competition, the government intervenes to manipulate the market so that the financiers always come out on top. This is what will happen with EDF, as the state has mandated that EDF must sell 25% of its production to private suppliers at a cost price of €49 per megawatt-hour. This means that EDF will lose 25% of its profits, allowing private companies to add their margins and make a profit. However, these profits will not be used to maintain the nuclear power plants. The speaker questions why EDF didn't use its existing profits to invest in renewable energy instead. They argue that most of these private suppliers rely on the cheap electricity they obtain from EDF rather than investing in renewables themselves. The speaker clarifies that it is still EDF producing the electricity, but they issue fake ownership titles to private suppliers who then sell it back to consumers at a higher price.

The French government has decided to increase the price of EDF's contracts to be higher than the market price. This has led many individuals, communities, and businesses to sign contracts with other private suppliers who are financially stable and can invest in aggressive marketing. The distribution of electricity from EDF to these private suppliers is based on the number of customers they have. Therefore, these suppliers aim to increase their customer base to obtain more electricity from EDF at a low cost, which they can then resell for a significant profit. To attract new customers, these suppliers purchase electricity from foreign markets, which makes them dependent on market prices. Sometimes the market price is stable, but other times it can skyrocket.

In France, there are anti-nuclear organizations that question the benefits of nuclear power. However, it is clear that Germany is the main beneficiary of this situation. France had a significant economic advantage with its nuclear power, as it provided cheap electricity and a strong industrial sector. Nuclear power is stable and the cost of fuel is minimal compared to the overall production cost. The cost of construction, fuel cycle, including disposal, and decommissioning of nuclear plants are already included in the price of electricity. Despite this, French electricity remains the cheapest in Europe, about half the price of other countries.