They have existed for more than fifty years but have fallen into disuse in recent years. The “off-peak – peak hours” options should “gradually change from mid-2025”, Emmanuelle Wargon announced on France Info this Sunday morning. The president of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) explained that these modifications were intended to better match “consumption peaks”.
EDF launched the first programs of this type in the 1960s. The historic electrician further strengthened them two decades later with an offer called “EJP”, for “peak day reduction”. The objective was as much to allow consumers to save money as to smooth consumption in order to better match it with nuclear production. Since then, Tempo, based on the regulated sales tariff (TRV) has replaced it.
Even today, so-called “delete” offers, which are based on this principle of off-peak hours (cheaper) and full, make it possible to prevent certain peaks, traditionally in winter at 7 p.m., when everyone comes home from work. But also for several years in the morning around 8 a.m., and even during the summer, with the democratization of air conditioning systems.
“Thus, off-peak hours are mainly offered at night,” CRE is reminded. This allows you, for example, to program your washing machine or recharge your water heater during these cheaper times. » For it to be profitable (the price of a full hour being much higher than the basic package), you must shift at least 30% of your consumption over this period.
Towards a slot in the afternoon
But uses are changing, as are consumption peaks. The CRE has therefore launched a public consultation in order to define new rules in line with the needs of the network.
“We have observed for several years that with the evolution of the electricity mix, energy, particularly photovoltaic, is abundant in the summer season, between April and October, during the afternoon,” explains the energy policeman. It is also less expensive. It is therefore important to benefit households. In rebound, this can help decongest the network during peak hours. »
This should therefore lead Enedis to move part of the off-peak hours towards the beginning of the afternoon, where energy is abundant and inexpensive. “Concretely, initially, the number of off-peak hours would remain the same, i.e. eight per day,” deciphers the CRE. But part of them, between two and three hours, would be moved to the afternoon. » A minimum of five would remain positioned at night.
15 million customers affected
“Today, 40% of individuals and small businesses are affected by this system,” CRE further specifies. That's around 15 million customers. » Tempo, marketed by EDF, sets the pace for the market. But other suppliers have jumped into the breach and are also offering their own self-deleting offers, for example with super off-peak offers, adapted to recharging an electric vehicle.
The system should also change in order to better take seasonal changes into account, for example by creating different time slots in winter and summer, and would continue to be adapted locally.
“These are still only avenues for reflection,” specifies the CRE. The public consultation ended in November. Based on the feedback, the CRE will make its decision in January for implementation which will start in the summer of 2025 and end around two years later, around the summer of 2027.”
