CEE grants explained: what they are and how to claim them in France

Collect quotes for energy work in France and installers will mention CEE alongside MaPrimeRénov'. CEE stands for Certificats d'Economies d'Energie (energy savings certificates). It's a separate grant that works differently, and you can combine it with MaPrimeRénov' to cut the net cost of a project substantially. Unlike MaPrimeRénov', it's open to second homes.

What are CEE grants and who pays for them?

French law requires energy suppliers, fuel distributors and other large energy sellers to fund energy savings. These companies, called obligated parties (obligataires), must hit savings targets set by the state. One way they meet them is by paying towards homeowners' energy-efficiency work, such as a heat pump, insulation or better ventilation.

So the money comes from private companies, not the state or a government agency: EDF, Engie, TotalEnergies and many smaller suppliers and fuel distributors. They either run their own programmes or buy certificates on the market. In practice, your CEE usually comes through your installer, who has a commercial agreement with one or more obligated parties. It should appear as a deduction on your devis, not as a payment to you after the work.

CEE isn't income-tested. Every homeowner can claim it, whatever they earn.

Which home energy work qualifies for CEE?

CEE covers a wide range of measures. The main ones for properties on the Cote d'Azur:

• Heat pumps (air-to-air, air-to-water, ground-source)
• Insulation (roof/attic, external walls, floor)
• VMC double flux (heat-recovery mechanical ventilation)
• Solar water heating systems
• Heat pump water heaters (chauffe-eau thermodynamique)
• Wood-burning boilers and pellet stoves
• Thermostatic controls and connected thermostats (in some cases)
• IRVE EV charger installations in collective housing and shared car parks (through the Advenir sub-programme; Advenir does not apply to individual houses)

Each measure has a standard calculation that sets what it's worth, based on the energy it should save over its life. For most measures the work must be done by an RGE-certified contractor, and the RGE qualification has to match the type of work. Check it on the contractor's certificate before you sign.

How much is CEE worth on the Côte d'Azur?

CEE amounts aren't fixed. They vary by obligated party, by programme and with the market price of certificates. Heating work is also weighted by climate zone, and the Alpes-Maritimes sits in H3, the lowest band. National figures therefore overstate what a Riviera property gets. Rough figures for common measures here:

• Air-to-water heat pump: roughly 2,000-3,500 EUR. The same job in H1 pays close to twice as much. The amount also moves with system size, efficiency, income band and the contractor's programme
• Air-to-air heat pump (reversible AC): roughly 220-350 EUR, and only for units of 12 kW or less that meet an efficiency threshold
• Heat pump water heater: around 100-130 EUR at the normal rate, which isn't climate-zoned. Until 1 January 2027 the bonus below lifts it to 400-950 EUR
• Solar thermal water heater (CESI): around 170-220 EUR normally. Solar works the other way round from heat pumps: it's weighted by sunshine, so H3 earns the most in France. With the bonus until 1 January 2027, 680-1,100 EUR
• Attic insulation: roughly 500-1,500 EUR depending on the area, more for low-income households
• External wall insulation: roughly 700-2,000 EUR for a full house

These figures move quickly with the certificate price. The figure on your devis is the one that counts. If an installer quotes a CEE contribution that isn't written on the devis, ask for it in writing before you sign.

The CEE hot water bonus that expires on 1 January 2027

An arrêté of 17 August 2026 multiplies CEE on four hot water measures for a limited window. They are heat pump water heaters, solar thermal water heaters, hybrid PV and thermal systems, and solar thermal devices. Heat pump water heaters get seven times the normal amount for modest households and four times for everyone else. The three solar measures get five and four times.

Two things decide whether you get it. Your devis must be signed before 1 January 2027; the date the work finishes doesn't matter. And the job must leave no fossil-fuel equipment for heating or hot water. Swap an electric cumulus for a heat pump water heater in a house that still runs a gas boiler and you get the normal amount, not the bonus.

On measures this small, normal CEE barely registers against the installed cost, so the bonus changes the decision. It took effect on 1 September 2026, the same day MaPrimeRénov' stopped funding both water heaters as standalone measures. Expect close scrutiny. The arrêté requires an on-site inspection on 20% of these jobs and a contact inspection on a further 30%, so make sure what gets installed matches the devis.

Can you combine CEE with MaPrimeRénov'?

Yes, on the same installation. Plenty of English-speaking owners know about MaPrimeRénov' and miss CEE entirely. The two work independently:

• MaPrimeRénov' is income-tested, covers principal residences only, and you apply through ANAH before work starts
• CEE isn't income-tested, has no residence rule, and usually comes through your installer's agreement with an obligated party

Take a heat pump costing 10,000-15,000 EUR. A household in the Bleu or Jaune MaPrimeRénov' income band that also gets CEE can see the net cost fall by 40-70%. Where it lands depends on current rates, the equipment and the obligated party's programme.

There's a ceiling. On a single measure, MaPrimeRénov' and CEE together can't exceed 90% of the cost including TVA for Bleu households, 75% for Jaune and 60% for Violet. On a whole-house rénovation d'ampleur the caps are higher: 100%, 90%, 80% and 50% for Rose. Ask your installer how the two schemes interact on your project.

How do you claim CEE through your installer?

Usually you don't claim it yourself. The process runs like this:

1. Your installer has a commercial agreement with an obligated party (an energy company)
2. They quote you a net price with the CEE contribution shown as a deduction
3. After the work, they send the paperwork to the obligated party on your behalf
4. The obligated party pays the installer (or you directly, depending on the arrangement)

You sign one document, an attestation sur l'honneur. It confirms you own the property, the work is done, and you haven't had CEE for the same work from anyone else. Your installer provides it.

The amount depends on the installer's programme, so ask several contractors what CEE they can apply before you choose. It can differ significantly.

Does CEE apply to second homes on the Riviera?

Yes. CEE has no residence rule. It covers second homes as well as main homes, and non-French owners qualify on the same basis as French residents. That sets it apart from MaPrimeRénov' and the Éco-PTZ loan, which are both for principal residences only.

The work still needs an RGE-certified contractor, and the property must be a home at least 2 years old. If you're doing qualifying energy work on a holiday home here, ask about CEE on every quote.

More on CEE, MaPrimeRénov' and RGE contractors

• CEE: quick-reference glossary entry
• RGE certification: the contractor qualification you need to check
• MaPrimeRénov': the income-tested grant that combines with CEE
• Devis: what your quote should contain, including any CEE contribution
• MaPrimeRénov' explained: full guide