France in Focus

There is an article in Les Echos today about potential changes: La Commission de régulation de l'énergie engage Enedis à remettre à plat le maquis des « heures creuses » dans les grilles tarifaires. Plus incitatives pour déplacer les consommations des ménages, elles devront aussi coller aux heures de pic de production solaire qui perturbent de plus en plus les marchés en Europe.

I believe heures creuses were originally introduced to use surplus overnight nuclear generated electricity. Now nuclear power output can be better regulated overnight and the main problem is the surplus electricity from solar panels during the day (afternoon) in summer. So there are now discussions about changing the heures creuses times and tariffs. They could be implemented in 2025 with the possibility of heures creuses periods during the day in summer and then at night in winter. Existing heures creuses during lunchtime in winter would be removed.

If it happens, it sounds much more complicated than the present system and there would be the need for a lot of explanation about the possible significant changes to come.

Thanks Elsie.
There is a significant difference in the heures creuses depending on where you live and perhaps which electricity company you are with.
At present we only have HC at night, starting at 22h and for us, it wouldn't really make any difference to us whether they're in the daytime or at night - it's easy to set the timer.

Thanks Elsie .. forewarned is forearmed as is said.

ÉLECTRICITÉ : LES HEURES CREUSES POURRAIENT SE DÉPLACER DE LA NUIT À LA JOURNÉE seems to be most of the full Les Echos article

I quite like that idea. Cheaper electricity during the hottest part of the day.

I agree with Blaze, it doesn't make much difference as the timer will sort it.

I can see the logic of the possible change but I hope that the existing Tempo contract will stay the same or follow a fixed pattern through the winter months. We use timers while we are away for most of the winter and these are set to heat the house during the HC period during the night. We could cope with a set timetable but not a flexible one reacting to the weather conditions.

Not good news. We're in the process of organising photovoltaique panels, the idea being to cut summer bills, which are almost as large as the winter ones. We rely on HC for the pompe à chaleur (heating and hot water) in winter, though, and would still benefit from overnight HC in summer when the panels aren't producing. At least we're forewarned! Thanks, elsie

Every time we get a letter from EDF proposing some new scheme I instantly delete it. Smoke and mirrors as usual. To change to what they say will be a benefit will only end up being a benefit to EDF, not the consumer.

Hotrodder, If this change happens, it will be a decision by ENEDIS which all the household electricity suppliers, including EDF, will have to implement. So, if it affects you, you will have accept any new offer.