'France will introduce fines for stores that leave lights on at night for long periods.'

The lights of France's capital may soon get a little dimmer - or have to pay the price. That's because France is having trouble paying its energy bills. The European country was weakened last year by plans to cut heating and electricity bills in the public and private sectors after Russia cut gas supplies to Europe, leading to prolonged shutdowns of French nuclear reactors. Bloomberg reports that France's combined electricity and natural gas consumption has since fallen nearly 12 percent from pre-crisis levels, exceeding a goal of a 10 percent reduction by 2024. However, higher energy bills continue to plague''country and jeopardize its efforts to tackle climate change.

The law governing the hours of lighting in storefronts and commercial properties will become stricter to help tackle the problem, and violators will be fined 1,500 euros ($1,579). The French government is also set to introduce new tax breaks for businesses that help their employees commute to work by bicycle. Agnès Pannier-Rounache, minister for energy transition, spoke out on the matter in an interview with L'\''Alsace, saying that oil use must also decline, after it fell by less than two percent last year.

The government plans to provide assistance to those who comply with France's energy conservation laws. The administration says it will provide subsidies covering up to 80 percent of the cost of a smart digital thermostat for homes, which can cost up to 1,000 euros ($1,062). Six energy supply companies, including state-owned Electricite de France SA, are expected to offer contracts that reward households that successfully reduce energy consumption. There is talk of a vicious cycle. The country's efforts to cut energy use made headlines in Paris last fall when it was revealed that the emblematic Eiffel Tower would turn off its lights an hour earlier than usual (at 10 p.m.) to conserve''energy during the winter. According to Reuters, the capital's energy bill is expected to reach 90 million euros in 2022, 35 million more than average.