Discount of 18 cents on fuel: abandoned this summer?

FUEL DISCOUNT. Bruno Le Maire announced that the fuel discount of 18 cents could be abandoned in July 2022 to make way for new, fairer and more targeted aid.

[Mis à jour le 25 avril 2022 à 10h45] discount fuel of 18 cents will it go out this summer? It’s very likely. According to the words of the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire this Monday, April 25 on France Info, this rebate could greatly evolve after January 31, the date until which it was to be effective. The Government invokes a lack of justice in the payment of this aid, between those who really need it and those who do not use their car as part of their job but who nevertheless benefit from it when they go to a service station: “the problem with the 18-cent rebate is that it benefits everyone, regardless of their level of income. Justice would be that we help more those who will travel 150 kilometers a day and sometimes more when you are medical assistance. To have more significant and more targeted aid seems to me to be fairer and more effective.” he declared. The desired objective would be to give more, but to fewer people: “there may be more effective devices, more targeted at people who have no choice but to take their vehicle to work or who are heavy commuters.“A new aid, therefore, which should see the light of day”from this summer“and which would take into account various parameters to be as fair as possible, such as the level of income of the person in question, the vehicle used, consumption and the number of kilometers travelled.

Friday, April 1 was synonymous with good news for motorists with the entry into force of the promised discount on the liter of fuel: 15 cents / liter of fuel, which finally became 18 cents in mainland France once the tax calculation was carried out. 18 cents per litre, this represents a saving of almost 11 euros on a full tank of 60 litres, enough to lower the total price without however falling below the 100 euro mark for a full tank of unleaded 95 E10. As a reminder, this aid in the form of a “fuel discount” was detailed on March 16 by Prime Minister Jean Castex during a press conference. Jean Castex explained that this should cost the state 2 billion euros. However, the Prime Minister called on distributors and oil companies to make “an additional gesture” in order to reduce the bill.

The discount will be made automatically at the time of payment, at the cash desk or by credit card at the pump. Contrary to what has been announced, the price displayed at the pump will ultimately be the one you will ultimately pay. There will therefore be no calculation to be made or discount to be requested from the pump. “It is true that Matignon initially wanted this to appear on the receipt, explains the Prime Minister’s entourage to Parisian. But that was not possible.” However, this will make the operation more readable and simple for the consumer. Will all fuels be affected? Yes, Jean Castex had specified in mid-March. E85, liquefied natural gas and LPG will be affected. This boost, valid each time you go to the gas station, will come into effect this Friday, April 1. Here is the device summarized in three points:

• This discount measure of 15 cents/litre of fuel (18 cents in mainland France) will be valid on all fuels, even E85 at the already lower price. If you drive on diesel with your diesel vehicle, you will therefore be just as concerned as if you drive on unleaded petrol.
• The measure took effect on Friday April 1, 2022 and will be valid until July 31.
• The discount will be immediate for the motorist. The price after discount will finally be displayed directly at the pump and via the totem panels at the entrance, contrary to what was originally announced.

Jean Castex explained that this should cost the state 2 billion euros. However, the Prime Minister called on distributors and oil companies to make “an additional gesture” in order to reduce the bill. Here is what we already know about this kind of “fuel bonus” which will be applied at the gas pump on Friday.

Everyone, whether you have a store loyalty card or not. This measure, which will cost the State around 2 billion euros, concerns households as well as businesses and will be “valid on all fuels”, specified the Prime Minister in a interview with Le Parisien newspaper. Thus, you will be able to benefit from the reduction of 18 cents per liter of gasoline whatever your status: are concerned “farmers, craftsmen, construction, taxis, truck drivers, everyone… Fishermen too”, explained John Castex. Arbitrations were then still in progress and Jean Castex finally unveiled specific aid for fishermen: 35 cents per liter of diesel from March 17 and until the end of July.

According to Jean Castex, the economy at the pump will not be invisible. The Prime Minister had given an example during the presentation of the device: that of a full tank of 60 liters of fuel, i.e. a tank of a good-sized car (a city car displays a tank of 45 to 50 liters) “You save 9 euros” for a full 60 liters, he said in the columns of Parisian. Since then, the device has evolved to finally reach 18 euro cents per liter of fuel, a saving of up to 11 euros per tank. With a price of around 2 euros per liter, a full tank would thus go from 120 euros to around 109 euros.

The fuel discount was put in place from Friday April 1, 2022 and for four months, Jean Castex had announced, i.e. until July 31, 2022.