Op-ed

Why Electricity Prices Should Be Scrutinized Just as Much as Gas Prices at the Pump

Energy and Climate

Published on 5 November 2026

Households want to be able to get around at an affordable cost and be less vulnerable to sudden spikes in fuel prices. Paying closer attention to electricity prices would help us better meet both of these expectations, explains economist Mathias Reynaert.

Op-ed published in Les Echos on November 4, 2026.

In recent weeks, the French media have frequently revisited a familiar scene: a reporter at a gas station, a driver filling up, and a discussion about the cost of living. For households that travel long distances, rising fuel costs are a real burden. It’s easy to see why prices at the pump are drawing so much attention.

Yet, in ten years, we may realize that this debate has overlooked a fundamental shift: gasoline is no longer the only option for powering our cars. Electricity prices deserve just as much attention today as those posted at the pump.

Read more on Les Echos.

Ten years from now, we may realize that this debate overlooked a fundamental change: gasoline is no longer the only option for powering our cars.

Author

Mathias Reynaert

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