French natural gas reference price increase December 2026, Digi Mart USA News: The natural gas reference price in France will rise 5.8% including tax on December 1, 2026, the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) announced on Monday, November 9. The monthly reference will reach 206.26 euros per megawatt-hour, up from 194.90 euros in November.
The increase applies to offers that follow this indicator, while fixed-price contracts are not subject to this supply-related variation.
The CRE estimates the average effect at 16 euros including tax on the December bill for customers on indexed offers. This figure is neither a flat rate nor a ceiling.
The actual impact depends on consumption, how gas is used and the terms of each contract.
The regulator also estimates that the average annual bill for 2026 will rise 11.8% compared with 2025, an additional 143 euros including tax. This annual calculation should not be confused with the December increase alone.
Around six million households have an offer indexed to this reference. Fixed-price offers accounted for about 40% of residential contracts at the end of 2025.
France had 10.23 million households subscribed to natural gas as of June 30, 2026.
The figure of 206.26 euros per megawatt-hour is an average covering different consumption profiles. It does not correspond to a single price per kilowatt-hour applicable to all households.
The December grid distinguishes in particular between heating and cooking and hot water.
These values are indicative. The grid covers the GRDF network, which serves about 95% of residential customers.
Separate references exist for local distribution companies. Location also affects transport and storage costs.
A household heating with gas and consuming between 4 and 6 MWh per year may fall into different categories depending on its supplier. The CRE invites these customers to compare offers based on their annual consumption.
Only the supply component changes on December 1. The calculation is based 80% on a monthly reference and 20% on a quarterly reference.
For December, the quotation periods used are October and August 2026, respectively.
A recent drop in a market price therefore does not pass through immediately to the reference price. The reference relies on a formula and on averages observed earlier, not on the latest trading session.
Emmanuelle Wargon, chair of the CRE, linked this pressure to tensions in the international market and a decline in supply since the Hormuz crisis. She noted that France imports 95% of its gas.
Regarding winter, she said the main issue concerns prices and does not foresee a supply problem, without ruling out any risk.
The reference price is not a regulated tariff that consumers can subscribe to. Regulated gas tariffs ended in July 2023.
Suppliers set their own offers and terms of change.
The national energy ombudsman recommends comparing the price per kWh and the subscription fee, including all taxes. The proposed monthly payment is not sufficient on its own, since it is based on an estimate that may lead to a later adjustment.
For a fixed-price offer, consumers should check which components are actually locked in and for how long. Service conditions, additional fees and rules for changes also matter.
Individuals can switch suppliers at no cost. The public comparison tool of the ombudsman allows offers to be examined according to each household’s situation, rather than relying only on the percentage increase announced for December.
