We must be very attentive to what happens

General delegate, Primer (association of local authorities and professionals)

Nicolas Garnier: The question of eligibility is important. In 2004, communities were trapping gas gas France (2) which has in the market. Therefore, that we be vigilant to ensure that this does not happen. Moreover, this is not because we are not forced to compete our purchases of electricity and gas should not be interested in the subject. Because, even for communities remaining tariffs, everything has changed. To change the power of a counter example, he must pay, while it was still free three years ago. We must be very attentive to what happens. Everyone is concerned, even those who did not the choice of the development in competition. Communities should really look at this market very closely. Otherwise, they are likely to find out much too late.

N.G.: This is a real question. Behind the privatization of gas of France, there is competition for concessions and distribution. But is this an evil Under what we live in today, I have in am not persuaded. In any event, there is no reason that this public distribution service is not, in the term, in competition.

N.G.: Could very well imagine that this equalization - which, moreover, is to a very limited and almost regional level in gas - continues. A departmental Union which would compete the concession could maintain a rate of identical gas for the Department. It is therefore quite absurd to competing gas concessions across the departments. As it would finally allow local communities to define strategies for development of the gas, which is not the case today. And then, remember, when it opened the markets for the supply, had already predicted us the end of the equalization. However, EDF today provides a professional at the same price as it is in Lille or Marseille. Equalization is in the offer. Providers not to are not complicated life by creating different prices depending on the region.

N.G.: Local authorities were today absolutely nothing to say on the development strategy of the gas network in their territory. France gas built networks, where he wants to. And then we are left with conflicts of interest when a heat network is directly competed by the gas network, while the network belongs to the local community and the local public service is placed under the authority of the community. It is an aberration!

N.G.: A number of operators of service companies could claim the right to exploit the gas network. Term, we are heading toward privatization of the gas distribution. And it is desirable because we really need that communities play a role very much as concessionary energy authorities. However, this authority will be strong if concession contracts are for real contracts in which communities can choose their dealership and decide contract. The current contract is completely frozen. There is almost nothing to negotiate. Forces report does therefore not to the local community to fully play its role as licensing authority.

N.G.: I regret that gas of France, as a dealer, does not mean is in the development of renewable energy or control energy. The licensing authority is entitled to have desire to develop local energy and distribute, to wish that it uses less gas on its territory to limit the cost of infrastructure, risk and emissions - because the gas is to call "natural", remaining before any fossil fuel that is not more natural to oil. However, it is really difficult to get our ideas to gas of France. It has a huge role to play in the biogas including - it has the jurisdiction to do this, and yet she brakes for ten years - but also in the development of renewable heat. Talking of control of electricity demand, but much less control of gas. This is why local communities must take in hand their gas concession contracts and give a strong signal on the development of renewable energy and control energy.

N.G.: I will be more cautious on electricity, because the equalization is and it's needed. But will it arrive a day or the other. It gently prepare. As a first step, the invitation we made to the National Federation of concessionary and governed communities (FNCCR) is to work on the evolution of the contracts of concession electricity, gas and heat network - three great energies to develop at the local level. But the main effort was on the gas. The development of the gas network must be set on other bases than the profit on investment.