Discover the whole TF1 INFO universeTheir voices have been rising for a few days.While the announcement in mid-September of the extension of the tariff shield to VSEs (very small businesses) was welcomed with relief by many craftsmen and traders, others still find themselves just as helpless in the face of excessively high energy bills. .Excluded from this tariff shield, which caps the rise in energy costs at 15%, several professionals are sounding the alarm.Like bakers, some of whom cannot benefit from this protection, reports the union of independents and VSEs (SDI).Because if these structures meet the criteria of a VSE, namely having less than 10 employees and generating an annual turnover of less than 2 million euros, the energy power necessary for their production is too high to enter the fold. of the shield.Other trades are in the same case, jeopardizing their survival, denounces the SDI.The idea of ​​including VSEs in the tariff shield, "is good", greets Jean-Guilhem Darré, general delegate of SDI, with TF1info.But "the real criterion" retained by Bruno Le Maire to extend this protection, in mid-September, is in fact the "power" used by companies and craftsmen to work, regrets the representative.Thus, VSEs that can benefit from the tariff shield must justify a quantity of energy used of less than 36 kilovoltamperes (KVA).However, as soon as an activity involves the use of an "oven, refrigerated rooms, or a kneading machine", the amount of energy used exceeds this threshold."Bakers are the most affected, because they use several of these machines", explains Jean-Guilhem Darré.“But even florists, butchers, caterers, as well as small food retail outlets” are concerned, he lists.These VSEs can always turn to the resilience plan, put in place by the State.Aid capped at 3 billion euros, which concerns all companies for which energy expenditure represents 3% of turnover in 2021, and whose gas or electricity bills have doubled compared to last year.Criteria too complicated to fulfill, still denounces the SDI.The steps to be taken require in particular the assistance of an accountant, or even the establishment of an interim balance sheet, "which is very expensive", underlines Jean-Guilhem Darré.Therefore, the representative believes that Bercy must review its copy, and open the tariff shield to "all VSEs, without distinction".He also calls on the government to "radically simplify the procedure for accessing the resilience plan".Faced with this incomplete system, "the major risk is the closure of the company. Or an increase in the prices of the products sold, but in this case, there will be a strong discrepancy with the purchasing power of consumers", he dreads.A fear of repercussions on prices that Bercy immediately sweeps away."We totally assume to say at some point that we must pass on the prices of energy to those of products", explains the ministry to TF1info."We have put in place more than 50 billion in aid to protect the purchasing power of households, it is also to absorb this rise in prices", it is underlined.The government, which estimates at 1.5 million VSEs “potentially concerned” by the tariff shield, strongly encourages those not concerned, to “find out, get closer to their federations, or taxes” to start the necessary steps for aid of the resilience plan.Recalling that it is open on a case-by-case basis, if a "company does not fit into any box", the Ministry of the Economy adds that it is "constrained by the European framework" in the allocation of aid, so that it does not there is no "distortion of competition".This very strict European framework had been “largely relaxed during the Covid. It returned to less flexible criteria”, we are told."Whatever it takes, it's over," concludes Bercy.“We assume to get out of this very broad watering to go towards very targeted aid. It takes more time for the adjustments”, adds the ministry.On the same topic