For the application of article A. 132-1, the average rate for government bonds on a half-yearly basis is determined by taking the arithmetic average over the last six months of the rates observed on the primary and secondary markets. The result of multiplying this average by 60% or 75% is called the “monthly reference rate”.
The maximum technical interest rate applicable to tariffs is set on a scale of rates starting from 0 and steps of 0.25 points, without falling below 0. It changes according to the position of the monthly reference rate in relation to the last maximum technical rate in force:
-as long as the monthly reference rate has not decreased by at least 0.1 point or increased by at least 0.35 point compared to the last maximum technical rate in force, the latter remains unchanged;
-if the monthly reference rate falls outside the limits defined above, the new maximum technical rate becomes the rate immediately below the monthly reference rate on the 0.25 point step scale.
Where a new maximum technical interest rate is applicable, companies have three months in which to make the change.