Electric heaters cost more than wood

Website Quelleenergie.fr reported it costs nearly €1,680 a year, an average of €140 per month to heat a property using electricity, compared to just €769 for the latest wood-burning systems.

A total 41% of homes in France use electric central heating, which Quelleenergie.fr said cost a annual average of €16.10 per square metre, making it the most expensive heating option.

The 19% of the French population who use fuel oil to heat their homes saw their bills jump 12% year on year, on top of an 18% increase in 2016, as fossil fuels became more expensive.

Government aid of up to €3,000 is available to update environmentally unfriendly fuel oil heating for a greener system such as wood.