Energy crunch: France imposes restrictions on AC, neon lights
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Paris: Due to the power crunch induced by the Russia-Ukraine war, France ordered shops to close doors while using air conditioning and limit the use of neon lighting. The administration intends to cut unnecessary energy wastage, IANS reported.
BBC reported that shops would be fined 750 Euros if the air conditioner rule is violated.
Similar rules are already in force in many places but will be rolled out all over the country, Minister of Ecological Transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher told the media.
Energy costs have skyrocketed in France after the Russian invasion.
The minister said that Leaving doors open when air conditioning is on is "absurd". She will issue two decrees on energy wastage in the coming days; she told Journal du Dimanche newspaper.
According to BBC, she said, "The first will widen the ban on illuminated advertising, whatever the size of the city, between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. The second will ban shops from having their doors open while the air conditioning and heating are working."
The ban on neon signs is already in force in areas with a population under 800,000, except airports and stations.
The minister warned that energy rationing could not be ruled out in the EU as the region struggles to cope with disruption to gas supplies from Russia.
Meanwhile, France is experiencing extremely hot weather, and demand for air conditioning is also high.