By €153
Average 2026 cheque
Per eligible household (ASP)
€48–€277
Amount range
Varies by income and household size
4.5M
Households in 2026
Receiving cheque automatically or on request
€11,000
Income threshold / UC
Annual tax reference income limit
Who qualifies for the energy cheque?
The energy cheque (chèque énergie) is allocated automatically based on your household's annual tax reference income (revenu fiscal de référence, or RFR). If your household's RFR per consumption unit (CU) is below €11,000, you are eligible. The French tax authority (DGFIP) identifies eligible households from tax return data each year — no application is required for most.
Consumption units are calculated as follows:
- The first adult in the household: 1 CU ;
- Each additional adult: 0.5 CU ;
- Each dependent child: 0.3 CU. Children with shared custody count as 0.15 CU in each parent's household.
In practice, this means the following household income thresholds apply:
- €11,000 for a single person (1 CU × €11,000) ;
- €16,500 for a couple (1.5 CU × €11,000) ;
- €19,800 for a couple with one dependent child (1.8 CU × €11,000) ;
- €23,100 for a couple with two dependent children (2.1 CU × €11,000).
Expats welcome. The energy cheque is available to all households residing in France, regardless of nationality. The only requirement is filing a French tax return (déclaration de revenus) with an RFR below the threshold. Nationality makes no difference.
The cheque is nominative and non-transferable — it cannot be given to a third party or family member. Not eligible? Our advisors compare energy offers and can find you a cheaper tariff in English, free of charge — call +33 9 87 67 37 93 (Mon–Fri 8am–9pm, Sat 9am–7pm, Sun 9am–5pm).
How much is the energy cheque in 2026?
The amount depends on two factors: your household's income level and the number of consumption units (CU). The average 2026 cheque is €153, but individual amounts range from €48 (single adult near the upper income threshold) to €277 (larger household on very low income). The table below shows exact amounts by income band.
The income bands themselves have not changed since 2020 — what changed is the upper threshold, which increased from €10,700 to €11,000 per CU in 2025, bringing more households into the lowest-benefit band.
| RFR per CU | 1 CU 1 person |
1–2 CU 2–3 persons |
2+ CU 4+ persons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than €5,600 | €194 | €240 | €277 |
| €5,600 to €6,700 | €146 | €176 | €202 |
| €6,700 to €7,700 | €98 | €113 | €126 |
| €7,700 to €11,000 | €48 | €63 | €76 |
Energy cheque amounts for 2026. Source: ASP / chequeenergie.gouv.fr.
If you believe the amount you received is incorrect, call the free helpline 0 805 204 805 (Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm). An adviser can check the calculation against your tax file.
When will I receive my energy cheque in 2026?
For the 2026 campaign, cheques are dispatched in three departmental batches between 1 and 20 April 2026. The dispatch happens by post (paper cheque) or by email (e-chèque) depending on your registered contact details. Around 4.5 million households receive a cheque automatically; a further 700,000 additional households identified via data cross-referencing receive theirs from 1 May 2026.
Cheques typically arrive within 2 to 4 days of the dispatch date for your department. The exact lot for each department is determined by the ASP (Agence de Services et de Paiement) each year.
| Wave | Dates | Departments included |
|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 | 1–3 April 2026 | North, East, South, DOM-TOM, Seine-Saint-Denis (~33 departments) |
| Lot 2 | 7–10 April 2026 | West, Centre, East (~40 departments) |
| Lot 3 | 13–20 April 2026 | Île-de-France, Rhône-Alpes, Brittany (~27 departments) |
| Additional wave | From 1 May 2026 | ~700,000 additional households identified via data cross-referencing |
2026 dispatch calendar. Source: ASP / chequeenergie.gouv.fr.
2025 exception. The 2025 campaign was sent in November 2025 rather than spring, due to late adoption of the 2025 finance law. This was a one-off change — the normal April schedule resumes from 2026.
Make sure your tax records reflect your current address — cheques are dispatched to the address held by the DGFIP. If you have moved, update your details via your personal tax account at impots.gouv.fr to ensure you receive next year's cheque. Your energy cheque is valid from 1 April until 31 March of the following year, and the expiry date is printed on the cheque itself.
How to use your energy cheque
The energy cheque can be used to pay for electricity, natural gas, LPG, fuel oil, wood, biomass, or collective heating charges. Residents of condominiums with collective heating can apply it to individual electricity bills or shared energy charges. People in care homes (EHPAD) can use it for their accommodation energy fees. It can also fund energy renovation works, provided the work is carried out by a certified RGE professional.
The cheque cannot be used for vehicle fuel. It is non-divisible and non-reimbursable — however, if the cheque amount exceeds your bill, the surplus carries over to subsequent invoices from the same supplier. If you close your energy contract before using the full amount, the remainder can be reimbursed.
Paying online (recommended)
The simplest method is to pay directly at chequeenergie.gouv.fr. You will need your energy supplier customer reference number, the cheque reference number, and the security code under the scratch-off panel. Only scratch the panel when you are ready to use the cheque.
You can also set up automatic pre-assignment (pré-affectation): register your supplier once online and future cheques will be applied directly to your bills each year, with no action needed. This automatic assignment is cancelled if you switch supplier — you will then receive the following year's cheque by post or email and need to re-register.
Paying by post
You can post the cheque directly to your energy supplier's billing department. The postal address is on your energy bill. Include a copy of the bill or a document with your customer reference. Allow 2–4 weeks for processing. The cheque reference is on the top right of the physical cheque.
All accredited energy suppliers in France are required to accept the chèque énergie — including EDF, Engie, TotalEnergies, ENI, Enercoop and smaller regional suppliers. For the full up-to-date list of addresses, consult the chequeenergie.gouv.fr official website.
Additional rights for chèque énergie holders. Eligible households benefit from free meter commissioning and an 80% discount on reconnection fees after a power cut due to unpaid bills. These rights apply automatically — just inform your energy supplier of your eligibility status.
What if I haven't received my energy cheque?
The most common reason is that your household was not in the DGFIP's automatic identification file. Since 2025, around 1.7 million new eligible households must apply online rather than receiving the cheque automatically. The online request portal at chequeenergie.gouv.fr is open from 1 April to 31 December 2026.
Other possible reasons for not receiving your cheque:
- Your department's dispatch date has not passed yet — check the calendar above ;
- The cheque was sent to an old address on file with the DGFIP — update your address at impots.gouv.fr ;
- You are a new resident in France and have not yet filed a French tax return — your first automatic cheque will follow after your first declaration ;
- The cheque was lost or stolen in transit.
To get help, call the free energy cheque helpline: 0 805 204 805 (Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm). If your cheque was lost or stolen, declare it online at chequeenergie.gouv.fr/beneficiaire/declarer-perdu-vole to receive a replacement within a few weeks.
If you do not qualify for the energy cheque, the most effective way to reduce your bills is to switch to a cheaper energy supplier. Selectra's English-speaking advisors handle the entire process for you at no cost — call +33 9 87 67 37 93.
Frequently asked questions
Any household in France whose annual tax reference income (RFR) is below €11,000 per consumption unit (UC) is eligible. The first adult counts as 1 UC, the second as 0.5 UC, and each dependent child as 0.3 UC. Eligibility is assessed automatically by the DGFIP — no application needed for most. Around 4.5 million households receive the cheque in 2026. New households identified since 2025 must apply online at chequeenergie.gouv.fr between 1 April and 31 December 2026.
Yes. The energy cheque is available to all households residing in France, regardless of nationality. The only requirement is that your household files a French tax return (déclaration de revenus) and that your RFR per consumption unit is below €11,000. If you are new to France and have not yet filed a French tax return, you may not appear in the first automatic batch — use the online request form at chequeenergie.gouv.fr from 1 April 2026.
The average energy cheque for 2026 is €153. Individual amounts range from €48 (single adult near the upper income limit) to €277 (larger household on very low income). The exact amount depends on your household's tax reference income per consumption unit and the number of consumption units. See the amounts table on this page for the full breakdown.
Yes. The energy cheque is accepted by all accredited energy suppliers in France — including EDF, Engie, TotalEnergies, ENI, Enercoop and smaller regional providers. You can use it online at chequeenergie.gouv.fr or send it by post to your supplier's billing department. It covers electricity, gas, fuel oil, wood, LPG, biomass, and collective heating charges, as well as energy renovation works by a certified RGE professional. It cannot be used for vehicle fuel.
The energy cheque is valid from 1 April until 31 March of the following year — so a 2026 cheque expires on 31 March 2027. The expiry date is printed on the cheque. There is no reimbursement for unused expired cheques. If you plan to use the cheque for energy renovation works, you can request a one-year validity extension from the DGFIP in writing before the expiry date.