France natural gas reference price to rise 6.3 percent in October

Natural gas reference prices in France are set to increase by 6.3 percent on October 1, 2026, according to the Commission de régulation de l'énergie (CRE). The new benchmark price will be 182.88 euros per megawatt-hour, up from 172.05 euros in September. This increase is expected to affect approximately six million households, particularly those with contracts indexed to this reference value, resulting in an average monthly cost increase of 5.28 euros.

The price hike is attributed to higher wholesale costs driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and disruptions in liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows. For households using gas for heating, the increase could be as high as 8 percent. The CRE estimates that if market conditions remain stable, annual energy bills for 2026 could be 10 percent higher than in 2025.

In response to rising costs, the French government is introducing a new fuel subsidy for commuters. Between October and December, eligible workers and self-employed individuals who use private vehicles for work and travel more than 15 kilometers per trip, or more than 8,000 kilometers annually, will receive a 100-euro lump sum. This aid is intended to offset costs for those with long commutes, though electric and hydrogen vehicles are excluded from the program.