One of the objectives of this modification, expected later this year, is to encourage the use of off-peak hours in summer, for example for recharging electric car batteries.
Electricity packages in “peak hours” and “off-peak hours”» will evolve. Questioned by France Info this Sunday 29, the president of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), Emmanuelle Wargon recalled her wish to “better position off-peak hours”. Currently, this type of plan offers 8 hours per day during which electricity is billed at a reduced price. The distribution of these hours is determined by Enedis, depending on the municipalities and accommodation. If for 60% of consumers, they are generally between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the president of the CRE deplores that “some are poorly located, between 7 and 8 a.m. or around 5 p.m.”.
A consultation on the subject was launched last October by the energy regulator. “To take into account the abundance of summer photovoltaic production, stakeholders are consulted on the gradual generalization of off-peak hours in the afternoon in summer from August 2025”indicated the CRE in a press release. The consultation having ended about a month ago, the conclusions are expected during the month of January. The system could be modified as early as this summer: households will then be contacted directly by their energy suppliers.
Also read
Electricity: off-peak system costs most customers more than it earns
“Let off-peak hours remain advantageous”
The objective is to encourage the use of these hours in summer, for example for recharging electric car batteries. And this for several reasons. First, for “ensure that off-peak hours remain advantageous”argues Emmanuelle Wargon. “You need 30% of your consumption during off-peak hours for it to become attractive”specifies the former Minister of Transport. EDF makes no secret of it: the cost of the off-peak – peak hours subscription is higher than a traditional subscription. “Count 8 euros more per year for a basic power of 6kVA”indicates the supplier on its website. It is therefore necessary to maximize consumption during off-peak hours to make this package profitable. This often requires these customers to be particularly flexible in their consumption, or to have programmable household appliances.
This overhaul should also make it possible to reduce the number of hours of electricity production at negative prices. This is particularly the case when it comes from renewable energies, in particular solar: it is generally abundant when demand is low. Peaks in electricity demand are in fact in the morning and at the end of the day. At the end of June, France had experienced 235 hours of electricity production at negative prices, or 5% of production hours, already surpassing the 2023 record (147 hours), according to RTE, the high voltage network manager.
Business
