The off-peak hours system will be reviewed and corrected this year. Like restaurant vouchers and the PEL, several things are about to be changed with the new year. Questioned by France Info this Sunday, December 29, the president of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), Emmanuelle Wargon, spoke about the imminent overhaul of the system, which tended to favor the use of the electricity network in the evening, after 5 p.m.
Change off-peak hours, what for?
In France, 15 million households have subscribed to off-peak electricity contracts. Concretely, this historically made it possible to lower your electricity bill by favoring the nighttime use of certain appliances, such as the washing machine or the dishwasher for example. Rather than running your household appliances at full speed during the day, the staggered schedules made it possible not only to avoid congestion on the electricity network, but also to make significant savings, up to 15% on traditional rates.
The problem is that today this off-peak system is no longer adapted to French consumption, nor to national electricity production, which is increasingly relying on solar energy. Thus, the CRE now asks suppliers to concentrate their off-peak hours in the middle of the day in spring and summer, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. It is in fact at this time of year that photovoltaic panels are capable of producing the most.
In addition, this system is starting to seriously date, estimates the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE). Last September, the organization allegedly ordered Enedis to review its entire pricing systemin order to better adapt to the current market, and in particular to favor users of electric vehicles. It is with this in mind that off-peak hours will undoubtedly change from mid-2025, being shifted more into the afternoon, to favor scheduled laundry and heating of hot water tanks. , or the slow charging of an electric vehicle, which can no longer be covered by the employer. It is still necessary to be able to program or anticipate peaks in electricity consumption, recalls the competition authority, which recommended in November the pure and simple elimination of off-peak hours to allow better competition on the electricity market. electricity.
What changes for consumers?
This change in price list will not happen immediately. Such an upheaval in the daily lives of the French is likely to take time, and the CRE recommends application from this year, but must still go through validation by official legislators. The opportunity for Enedis to clarify its offer, reduce pressure on its electricity network, and avoid consumption peaks which would lead to a surge in prices.
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