France introduces price caps on electricity

Without a price cap, people’s heating costs could have risen by 30 percent, according to the government’s estimates.

– It will not happen, said Prime Minister Jean Castex when he announced the price cap on Thursday.

The measure is expected to last through the winter and into April.

In addition, 6 million low-income households will receive a one-off payment, which the government calls an energy check, of 100 euros in December.

Governments in several European countries are now considering how to tackle sharply rising energy prices.