Soaring electricity costs at Tisseo: Toulouse Métropole will have to pay more
The rise in the cost of electricity will have a strong impact on the Tisséo transport authority, in particular due to the operation of the metro. Toulouse Métropole will have to increase its payment to the transport union in 2023.
The soaring price of electricity, in particular to operate the metro, is a threat to the transport authority Tisséo Voyageurs. A threat which will become reality next year with a bill which will go from 6 M€ in 2022 to “24 to 30 M€” in 2023, according to the figures put forward this Thursday by Sacha Briand, during the vote on the metropolitan budget. Or 18 to 24 M€ of additional costs.
Consequence announced by the elected official in charge of finance: the Métropole, which pays a contribution of around one hundred million euros to Tisséo each year, will pay more in 2023. “Toulouse Métropole will have to support the transport system, as all the communities of France”, affirmed the elected official who then evoked “the situation of bankruptcy” in which inflation plunges all the transport networks.
How much will be the additional effort required from the finances of the intercommunality? Up to the expected additional cost? Sacha Briand did not advance on a figure, hoped, at the beginning of the year, announced less than expected. Joseph Carles (Independents group) speaks of €30 million.
At this point, thanks to the post-Covid economic recovery, the metropolitan budget sees its tax revenues increase. “Improving savings will make it possible to cope even if the effort is significant”, therefore advanced the elected finance official. The president of the socialist group, Karine Traval-Michelet, who voted for the budget as provided for in the governance pact, described the 2023 financial year as “a positive anomaly” at a time when the municipalities are seeing their margins. of maneuver to be reduced. “But how long will we hold out? “, she questioned. Joseph Carles spoke of “a robust budget” but placed under the sign of “uncertainty”. Opposition groups voted against the budget.
3rd metro line: see you in January
For the metropolitan opposition, Marc Péré reiterated all the evil he thinks of the financing plan for the 3rd metro line, which he claims will not be in operation before 2030, based on Tisséo documents. Sacha Briand responded point by point to the criticisms of the mayor of L’Union, accusing him of first seeking “to create a buzz”. The elected finance official has again committed to commissioning at the end of 2028. “If I talk nonsense, during the municipal elections of 2026, it will be seen. What is my interest? He was sent back at the end of January for a new updated financial sustainability plan, including in particular the exact cost of the civil engineering works. Marc Péré canceled the nail pleading for an increase in the transport payment. “Otherwise, the 3rd line cannot be financed. »