It has been another difficult winter season at the ski resort of Le Lioran. The lift company has been heavily impacted by skyrocketing electricity costs. The resort, located in France’s Cantal region, saw its electricity contract renegotiated at the worst possible time—late 2022—resulting in prices eight times higher than previously. This has forced the local government to request emergency financial aid from the French state.
A Season Cut Short by Soaring Costs
For the past ten days, the ski lifts at Lioran have been at a standstill, marking a premature end to the season. This is the third consecutive winter where the resort has had to grapple with an exceptionally high electricity bill. The cost per megawatt-hour has remained at €322—compared to just €40 before the energy crisis—bringing the total electricity bill this year to a staggering €1.2 million.
A major contributor to this cost is snowmaking, which became essential this season due to limited snowfall—only 1.1 meters of natural snow fell in total. Stéphane Fréchou, an ecologist and departmental councilor, voiced concerns over the environmental impact claiming that “Producing artificial snow is like leaving your fridge door open—it uses massive amounts of energy and water when there isn’t enough cold air outside. It's a serious issue. Now, there’s even talk of investing in a reservoir, which seems completely out of touch with today’s environmental priorities.”
Appeal for State Aid
In recent days, the Cantal Departmental Council sent a formal request to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Ecological Transition, asking for special financial support to help one of the region’s economic pillars. Without state assistance, the resort is expected to face an additional burden of €180,000 in 2025.
Bruno Faure, President of the Cantal Departmental Council, emphasized the economic importance of Lioran: “Lioran is the engine of winter tourism and a key economic player in our region. The transport company alone generates €6 million in revenue, but when you factor in lodging, equipment rentals, and other services, it brings in about €30 million to the local economy.”
There is a silver lining on the horizon: in 2026, the resort will be able to renegotiate its electricity contract, which is expected to reduce its energy bill by two-thirds and ease the financial strain. Last year, Lioran ended the season with a deficit of nearly €1.4 million.