“I hold the French record for the highest bakery bill,” laments Eric Claudel on the phone. This baker, based in Bollwiller, a town in the Haut Rhin, received an electricity bill amounting to 108,933 euros and 15 cents. A sum that makes you dizzy, for a consumption of twenty days.
The very bad surprise arrived in his mailbox at the beginning of the month. The craftsman still can’t believe it, he who subscribes to the regulated tariff. To benefit from the regulated tariff, a business must have a maximum connection of 36 kVa. Many bakeries do not benefit from this, needing more power.
Usually, Eric Claudel’s bill is around 2,000 euros for two months. “A structure like mine does not consume as much,” he complains to 20 minutes. Supposedly, I would have consumed the equivalent of the consumption of my city, the mayor has a bill of 102,000 euros! »
On the contrary, the craftsman expected a lower bill
The baker alerted his customers by posting his invoice on his window. It then circulated on social media. However, contrary to claims circulating on these networks, the bakery has not closed.
Eric Claudel rather expected a drop in his bill for his business that he opened eight years ago: “I did work to reduce consumption; I put LEDs everywhere, we took care to turn off the oven longer and earlier. »
“A counting error” of consumption
The baker contacted EDF customer service, which assured him that the invoice had been suspended. He still does not know why such an invoice was issued: “I am facing a wall”. Impossible, he regrets, to have an explanation by telephone.
EDF explains to 20 minutes that the invoice has been “cancelled”. The craftsman “received a high bill following an error in counting his consumption”, details the electrician. “When the customer informed us, the invoice was canceled and no direct debit was made”.
EDF confirms that it has published a “corrective invoice”, which Eric Claudel has received. It amounts to 3,800 euros. Again, he wonders about the amount and will contact his electricity supplier.
The government has announced a series of measures to protect very small businesses from rising energy prices. Announcements that did not reassure all bakers.