France to adjust seasonal electricity off peak hours for millions of households

The Commission de régulation de l’énergie is implementing a reform to change off peak electricity hours in France based on the season.

Starting 1 December, these changes will affect 9.3 million additional households, including 8.6 million private individuals. The rollout will proceed gradually until 31 October 2027. The new system divides the year into two seasons to better align with energy production.

During the summer season starting 1 April, off peak hours will be banned between 7 to 10 and 18 to 23. In the winter season starting 1 November, the banned periods shift to 7 to 11 and 17 to 21. Every customer will still receive 8 off peak hours per day and 5 consecutive off peak hours at night. This reform updates a mechanism from the 1960s originally designed to encourage night consumption when nuclear production was high.

Timothée Furois from Enedis explains that while night remains suitable for off peak use in winter, solar production makes the summer afternoon a better time for consumption.