But this would be to create a gas factory

The commission Champsaur, installed in November to flat rates for electricity, is poised to advocate the end of the regulated business tariffs. The lighthouse proposal that it will give the Government here to April 3 is indeed to give nuclear energy competitors to EDF to a preferred cost. Is it is adopted by the Government, this device will cause a change in major corporations, who in their vast majority, pay a regulated prices, whether it is yellow or green tariffs, or the "Tartam", the famous transitional tariff that allows those who chose the market to return to the regulated tariffs.

The Group of experts and parliamentarians or by Paul Champsaur, former Chairman of Arcep, the regulator telecommunications group par ancien de l' régulateur par par Paul Champsaur ancien ancien de l' régulateur de l' de l' régulateur régulateur But "the substance is stopped", according to a well-informed source. Will remain in the Government to decide on a sensitive issue. Its margin of manoeuvre is limited. The European Commission launched a procedure against the France on the regulated tariffs. It considers that they constitute State aid for French companies. In addition, the France is committed to what the Tartam enrols in the period. But its end is scheduled for July 2010. The Champsaur commission should propose another solution, aimed at freeing prices and to distribute the proceeds of a tax levied from EDF to consumers. But this would be to create a "gas factory". It is the first hypothesis that takes the rope.

A form of unbundling

Technically, it is to establish a rate regulated wholesale electricity of base the consumption minimum, mainly nuclear Ribbon which would be entitled alternative suppliers, such as Poweo, Direct energy or GDF Suez, the needs of their customers. They would buy the historical operator of power supplies or a drawing rights at a price which could not exceed the wholesale rate. For purposes of advanced, they complement their supplies with their own structures thermal Central and on the free market.

This device is comparable to that which is in place in telecommunications with unbundling. Experts believe that he did his evidence and gives rise to a genuine competition between France Telecom and its rivals. In electricity, the wholesale price would be set by the regulator or the State. The Champsaur commission should not decide on a specific level, but on a method of calculation. She advocates from the cost of production of the existing fleet by incorporating the necessary investment. On this basis, it should arrive to a rate of between 40 and 45 euros wholesale the megawatt-hour. In current prices, companies pay the base energy at an implied price of 35 euros. "Should facilitate the life of the competitors of EDF, but not too much because otherwise they will not investing," said a source.

A safeguard for the industrial

The Champsaur commission who auditioned all stakeholders for four months believes that offered alternative suppliers wholesale rates would allow them to compete with EDF to end non-residential customers. It is based on the principle that the incumbent operator does not sell below the wholesale rate, because it would be then pinned by the competition Council, and that his rivals will be to gain market share, and therefore, to offer low prices. Manufacturers may apply a safeguard.

This mechanism will require prior a fusion of regulated tariffs and the Tartam, is transitional to a more distant horizon, 2020, for example, after which the market could work himself. The ideal alternative suppliers should dispose of the means of production. According to the French Union of electricity (SEU), EDF is ready to transfer 30 of its basic production capabilities.