Off-peak electricity hours in France shift slowly to afternoons

Nearly 11 million households on a peak/off-peak electricity tariff from EDF or another supplier could see their off-peak hours change from November.

The reform, decided by the Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE), is an effort to adapt electricity consumption to new uses and the growing importance of solar production. 

Peak/off-peak (heures pleines/heures creuses, HP/HC) tariffs have existed since the 1960s, as the number of nuclear power stations grew in the country. 

They allowed electricity consumption to be spread out to avoid overloading the grid. 

Unlike some fossil fuel or hydroelectric power schemes, nuclear power stations could not be ‘turned down’ at night, when there was lower demand from industry and offices, to produce less base load electricity. By offering cheaper tariffs during these periods, it was possible to boost the amount of electricity used during them.

However, the increase in solar energy now means that the base power can exceed demand on hot summer days, making off-peak hours in the afternoon more logical. 

Until now, most households benefited from a block of eight consecutive off-peak hours, often from 22:00 to 6:00.

From November 1, off-peak hours will be split into two: at least five off-peak hours at night, and two additional off-peak hours during the day, between 11:00 and 17:00 - the period that the CRE says is now "the most favourable for consumption”.

There may be seasonal variations, meaning that in winter (November 1 to March 31), the eight off-peak hours could all be at night, as is the case today. 

Households whose off-peak hours are currently in the morning (7:00-11:00) or evening (17:00-23:00) will see their time slots modified. These times are now considered peak hours, due to high demand on the network. 

However, 3.5 million households already compliant with the new rules will not be affected.

Electricity suppliers such as EDF, Engie, Direct Energie, and TotalEnergies will have to adapt their customers' contracts. 

If you are affected, you may receive a letter from your supplier. You must be notified at least one month before your contract changes.

Read more: 10% of France’s green energy wasted in first half of 2025.

The changeover will happen gradually, with Enedis, which manages the public electricity distribution network, updating Linky meters over several years, until the end of 2027.

The off-peak offer was, and still is, most advantageous to people who heat their homes with electricity, who have electric hot water systems, or who charge electric cars at home.

Electric hot water systems, in particular, are usually wired into domestic circuit boards which switch the power on automatically when a long-wave radio signal is sent out by Enedis.

Other appliances, such as washing machines can have timers set so they run during off-peak hours, either built into the machine, as is the case with most new washing machines, or through relatively cheap (usually €15) timer plugs available from DIY stores.

EDF variable tariff initiative

EDF is launching a separate, year-long experiment on behalf of the government’s energy regulator to see if variable tariffs will encourage people to use less electricity.

Customers on its basic rate, who do not use heures creuses and who have the standard 6,000VA connection, are being chosen at random to see if they want to take part.

Participants will be divided into three groups – 2, 000 with small tariff variations, another 2,000 with larger tariff variations and a third in a control group.

Those on variable tariffs will have monthly timetables showing hour-by-hour cost changes, which they will access through the EDF et moi mobile app.

“The idea is to see if having variable tariffs changes the way people use electricity,” an EDF spokeswoman told The Connexion.

“If those taking part end up having used less electricity they will keep the savings on their bills, but if they use more electricity they will still pay the standard tariff they were paying before.”

People chosen to take part will be informed either by letter or email, to see if they want to do so.