France gas reference price increases by 6.3% in October

The reference price for natural gas sales in France has increased by 6.3% as of October 1, 2026. According to the Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE), the average price rose from 172.05 euros per megawatt-hour to 182.88 euros per megawatt-hour, including taxes.

This increase is driven by rising supply costs observed in the markets during August. The monthly variation does not affect subscription fees, transport costs, or taxes. For consumers with contracts indexed to this reference price, the CRE estimates an average increase of 5.28 euros on the October bill, though the actual impact varies based on consumption, usage, and specific contract terms.

Not all households will see an immediate increase. Approximately 40% of residential gas consumers held fixed-price offers at the end of 2025, which are protected from these monthly fluctuations. The reference price serves as a benchmark for comparing offers following the removal of regulated tariffs.