This French Life

Campaign to raise awareness of risk of forest fires

WITH 90% of forest fires in France caused by human activity, and with the summer set to be long and hot, the gendarmerie of the Dordogne are warning people to take care in the woods.

The warning comes as part of a national campaign to raise awareness of how easy it is for fires to start accidently, be that by a BBQ that gets out of hand or working with small machinery and tools in the forest.

Gendarmes and forest personnel will be undertaking regular patrols to both look out for potential fire risks, but also to make sure people are properly informed about the steps they can take to stay safe.

Linky: Do smart meters actually help reduce electricity consumption?

“No Linky” posters in Montreuil, near Paris. The first one reads “Linky: You can say no.” The second reads “Linky spies on your private life.” Some residents fear data surveillance rather than looking at possible advantages of smart meters.
Carole Salères, CC BY-SA

By Corinne Faure, Grenoble École de Management (GEM) et Joachim Schleich, Grenoble École de Management (GEM)

THE roll-out of electricity smart-metering devices is well under way in the European Union: a recent official report indicates that most EU countries are on track to have 80% of households equipped by 2020 (European Commission, 2016). Yet the roll-out is facing significant resistance in some countries, especially in France – the smart meter to be deployed in the French market, “Linky”, is facing a widespread and persistent “anti-Linky” campaign.

In some towns and neighbourhoods, anti-Linky stickers are being distributed and slogans are tagged on walls. A national “Stop Linky” day was announced for May 5, and a number of municipalities organised informational meetings, allegedly resulting in 500 recommending that residents refuse to allow the smart meters to be installed.

Help and advice on adapting your home as you get older

HOME owners around Villefranche-du-Périgord who are looking to adapt their properties with new features that will help those experiencing reduced mobility or health difficulties can receive some free advice next week.

A truck from SOLIHA Dordogne-Périgord will be parked up by La Poste in Villefranche-du-Périgord on Thursday 14 June between 9h and noon.

On it will be specialists in providing advice on how to adapt your home as you get older, covering things such as heating options and insulation, but also simple tips and tools to help in the bathroom or kitchen.

SOLIHA staff can also help provide information on financial support that might be available to help with the cost of renovations.

Entry and the advice on offer is free.

Taxe d'habitation set to come to an end by 2021

THE French government has said that taxe d'habitation will come to an end by 2021 following a recommendation in a recently published report.

The tax is already being cut for some on the lowest incomes, but now the French prime minister, Edouard Philippe, said that the government intends to abolish it within three years.

He went on to say that the loss in income, estimated to be around €20 bn, will be offset by efficiencies and savings, promising that no new taxes will be introduced.

Get ahead of the crowds for fioul delivery before tax increase bites

IF you use fioul for your domestic hot water or heating then you might want to get an order in before 2018 arrives to save paying an increase in the cost.

Price comparison website, Fioul Market, is advising customers that a tax increase is set to come into force on 1 January, the TICPE (taxe intérieure de consommation sur les produits énergétiques).

The TICPE will see an additional cost of 0.04476 euro per litre for domestic users, pushing the final TICPE figure to 0.18744 euro per litre, so if you buy 2,000 litres to fill your tank then this will add an extra 90 euros to the bill from 2018.

Tax is due on delivery, not the date of when you make an order, and so Fioul Market is saying buy a fill up now to ensure your delivery arrives before 1 January as it is expected tanker drivers will be busy in the coming weeks.

The graph below shows the change in the TICPE over the past few years.

Rules tightened on burning of garden waste in the Dorodgne

A TIGHTENING of the rules on burning garden waste has been introduced by the Dordogne préfecture, with the risk of a heavy fine hanging over transgressors.

The new rules bring a complete ban on the burning of garden waste between 1 March and 30 September.

In the past restrictions could be introduced due to the fear of forest fires, but now the ban not only covers this risk but also is an attempt to cut down on air pollution.

The burning of any other type of household waste is banned completely, and while it is possible to burn some garden waste in the winter months, you will still need to request permission through your local mairie three days in advance.

The authorities are suggesting that people let garden waste compost naturally, or take it along to their local waste tip, or dechetterie, for it to be dealt with there.

If you do decide to burn garden waste on your property illegally then you face a fine of 450 euros.

British pensioners spending time abroad could lose pension credit

Anyone who is out of Britain for more than a month will lose their pension credit, it was revealed in the Autumn Statement, in bad news for those who spend part of the year abroad.

The cut-off point for losing the means-tested pension credit will be reduced from 13 weeks spent overseas to just four from next April, Chancellor George Osborne announced on Wednesday.

The Telegraph: Autumn Statement: hard-up Brits spending time abroad could lose benefits

Electricity prices to increase by 2.5% from 1 August

MOST home owners will see their electricity prices increase by 2.5% from 1 August, 2015, but it could have been worse.

Ecology minister, Ségolène Royal, said that the increase would be paid by most people, although small businesses and artisans should not see a price rise.

But the price increases could have been worse, as the body that advises the government on energy costs had recommended an increase of 8% for domestic users.

France to add thousands of housing units for asylum seekers

France unveiled plans on Wednesday to add 10,500 additional housing spots for migrants as European nations grapple with how to handle a wave of people crossing the Mediterranean.

The government plans 5,000 housing units for people granted asylum in France, 4,000 for asylum seekers and 1,500 emergency slots for illegal immigrants.

In seven years, the number of asylum seekers has nearly doubled in France to reach more than 66,000 cases in 2013.

Last chance to keep expats’ WFP

A LAST-DITCH bid to stop the ending of British Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) to expats in so-called ‘warm countries’ like France has been launched – and needs readers’ urgent help.

British MP Roger Gale has today tabled a motion in the House of Commons asking for the ‘statutory instrument’ (SI) axing the payments to be anulled. It is now vital this obtains support from other MPs.