With a gas purchase bill up 500% and the exponential rise in the price of electricity, the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg has no choice but to accelerate its policy of energy sobriety and development renewable energies. And that, especially since these budget increases will have to be revised upwards this winter, warned the president of the Eurometropolis, Pia Imbs, this Wednesday during a press conference on this energy emergency…
Because, concretely, the energy bill in the provisional plan for 2022, which was already 3.2 million euros, has just increased to 17.4 million euros… Even if “this had been anticipated from July, assures the mayor of Strasbourg Jeanne Barseghian, we had counted on the doubling of the price of gas. But, after a few weeks, these forecasts were already obsolete because we are at six times more. We must constantly update our scenarios. »
“A significant drop in resources”
“Between absorbing the energy crisis, the increase in the index point and inflation, it is a significant drop in the resources of the community, worries the elected Syamak Agha Babaei, in charge of the budget and finances of the city and the Eurometropolis. If we were to continue to function as today, that habits do not change, hypothetically, we would have to find 240 million euros in the next four years for the city of Strasbourg. »
Also, the two communities that have placed the climate emergency at the forefront from the first day of their mandate, intend to move up a gear. “The course we had set for ourselves is the right one, like an athlete sharpening up for the race, illustrated the mayor of Strasbourg Jeanne Barseghian. We were already engaged. There, we will have to sprint. »
What levers?
Several levers are possible and will be put in place this fall, even if they still have to be discussed in detail between the 33 municipalities of the agglomeration and the elected officials. Main line of thought, the sobriety of energy consumption: starting the heating as late as possible in the season, limiting to average temperatures of 19° in the administrative buildings, or even 15° in its workshops. Schools, except nurseries and small sections, will also have to limit themselves to 19°. Other avenues, the partial or even complete closure, depending on the number of people or the use, of certain energy-intensive buildings: starting with the offices of the town hall on Place Broglie, but also, this remains to be specified, the swimming pools, ice rinks, media libraries, etc. C This is how the closure, two days a week, of the city’s museums is also confirmed.
Use of telework, reduction of public lighting, possible ban on illuminated signs. All public policies are scrutinized and all options are on the table, says the executive. With the exception, said Syamak Agha Babaei, of the payroll which will not be affected to save money, as will social measures, the social shield for families. The elected prefers to speak of an adaptation of the local public service. It is in this sense that Jeanne Barseghian also announced that there will be, for example, no increase in the price of school canteens in 2022 and that the additional cost, of several hundred thousand euros, will be covered. by the city.
Finally, the event policy will be impacted in order to limit “prestige expenditure”, visibility. Thus, is announced the cancellation this year of the day without car, entitled Freed streets. But don’t panic: “We won’t touch the Christmas market, it will take place! warns the mayor. Even if we are going to work on its energy sobriety, its eco-responsibility, in particular on the question of illuminations. There is room for manoeuvre. »