As at the beginning of each month, July 1 brings its share of novelties for French household budgets. Energy, banking, housing aid, family leave: an overview of the main changes coming into effect this Wednesday.
Gas: + 7.4% on the reference price
The most immediately noticeable increase concerns the gas bill. The reference price published by the Energy Regulatory Commission is up 7.4% including tax on average, moving from 152.86 to 164.21 euros per megawatt-hour. For households whose contracts are indexed to this benchmark, the CRE estimates the impact at an additional 2.7 euros on average on the July bill. This increase results from the combination of several factors: rising wholesale market supply costs, revised network access tariffs, and the implementation of a new gas equalization mechanism.
Over the long term, the trend is unequivocal: since the end of regulated tariffs in 2023, the annual bill for a gas-heated household has significantly increased, reaching a new record of around 1,789 euros per year in July 2026. Notably, even households with fixed-price contracts are not entirely spared, as the part related to network access applies to all contracts indiscriminately.
Electricity: appointment on August 1
On the electricity front, however, no movement is to be reported on July 1: the next step is set for August 1, with an expected increase of about 1% in the regulated tariff, a consequence in particular of the 3.04% increase in the network access tariff charged by Enedis, itself penalized by a particularly mild winter in 2025 which reduced its revenue.
Bank fees: transparency becomes European
Another significant novelty at the beginning of July: the application of a European directive on bank fee transparency, now applicable throughout the Union, including France. In concrete terms, banks are now obliged to inform their customers of any tariff increase at least two months in advance. If the new pricing structure is not suitable, the customer has this period to change banks and close their account free of charge. The European text also strengthens the regulation of incident fees applicable to customers identified as being in financial difficulty, a population particularly exposed to the accumulation of charges in case of overdraft.
Birth leave and social leasing
On the family front, a new birth leave scheme is also making headlines at the start of the month, while on the mobility front, the third edition of social car leasing is set to open its doors from July 16. The government's stated objective is to have 50,000 electric vehicles available for long-term rental at reduced prices over three years, for modest households earning on average less than 2,200 euros per month. Nearly 100,000 people had already benefited from the first two editions of the scheme. Applicants will need to justify a remaining charge between 100 and 200 euros per month, as well as a commute of more than 10 kilometers, or more than 8,000 kilometers traveled annually.
APL: don't forget the quarterly declaration
A reminder is necessary for beneficiaries of housing aid: the quarterly declaration of situation to the Family Allowance Fund must be updated before the end of July, under penalty of suspension of APL payments.
Editorial opinion
A heterogeneous set of changes, but they converge on one point: the slow but steady rise of the European level in the daily financial lives of French people, whether in setting gas prices or in banking transparency rules. Consumption is discreetly becoming an increasingly Brussels-centric issue.
