Energy saving certificates (CEE): the supplier subsidy scheme explained

How does the CEE grant scheme work?

French law sets energy suppliers a yearly energy-saving target. One way they meet it is by paying towards work in people's homes: heat pumps, insulation, heating controls, ventilation. Each funded job earns them certificates that count towards the target, and missing it means paying penalties.

For you, that's money off the job. The supplier pays part of the cost, either as a deduction on the invoice or as a payment after the work is finished.

How do you claim a CEE grant through your contractor?

You rarely deal with the energy supplier yourself. Your contractor usually handles the claim and passes the money on. Either it comes off the quoted price, or they tell you to expect a payment from the supplier once the job is done. Many contractors work with one supplier and process CEE in bulk.

The timing rule catches people out. The supplier's CEE offer has to be accepted before you sign the devis, and the work can't have started. Sign the devis first and the file is rejected. CEE can't be claimed for work that's already done.

Before you sign, ask the contractor two things. Which supplier's offer is this, and have I accepted it yet? And is the CEE amount written on the devis? If it isn't, get it in writing.

Which home energy work does CEE pay for?

The list overlaps with MaPrimeRénov':

• Heat pumps (air-to-water, ground-source and air-to-air)
• Insulation: roof, walls, floors
• Heat pump and solar water heaters
• VMC double flux (heat-recovery ventilation)
• Heating controls and thermostats

Replacing one gas boiler with another gets no CEE.

Each measure has a standard sheet (fiche) setting the conditions and the energy saving it's credited with. Your grant is based on that standard figure, not on what you actually save.

Why is CEE smaller on the Côte d'Azur?

Heating work is weighted by climate zone. The Alpes-Maritimes is in H3, the mildest and lowest-paying band, so premiums here are small and national figures overstate what you'll get. The amount also varies by supplier, so compare offers. Our guide to CEE grants on the Côte d'Azur has more detail.

There's also a bonus called Coup de pouce Chauffage (a bigger CEE bonus for replacing a fossil-fuel boiler), which multiplies the CEE when a heat pump replaces an oil, gas or coal boiler. It's for principal residences only. A second home gets the standard CEE.

Does CEE need an RGE-certified contractor?

For most measures, yes. Insulation, heat pump water heaters and air-to-water heat pumps all need a contractor with the matching RGE certification (the state's approved-installer label). Air-to-air heat pumps (reversible splits) are the exception. Their sheet only asks for the work to be done by a professional, and the unit has to qualify, so ask the installer to confirm the model does. Anyone handling the refrigerant still needs F-gas certification by law.

Can you combine CEE grants with MaPrimeRénov'?

Yes, on the same project, as long as the contractor meets both schemes' rules. The big difference for Riviera owners is the residence test. MaPrimeRénov' applies only to a principal residence, while CEE pays out whether the house is your main home or a second one. MaPrimeRénov' also does not cover air-air heat pumps, so CEE is the only grant for a reversible split.

CEE amounts aren't fixed. They depend on the type of work, the climate zone and what suppliers are paying for certificates, which moves. Your contractor should tell you the CEE figure for the job they're quoting. For an independent overview, the national energy ombudsman's consumer site energie-info.fr explains the scheme.

More on CEE, MaPrimeRénov' and RGE contractors

• MaPrimeRénov': the government grant that can be stacked with CEE in a principal residence
• RGE certification: the contractor qualification most CEE measures need
• Devis: the quote you sign only after accepting the CEE offer
• CEE grants explained for the Côte d'Azur