Business · Energy & Commodities · 9 hrs ago
Enedis to vary off-peak electricity hours by season for 9.3 million customers
From 1 December, Enedis will begin changing off-peak hours by season for 9.3 million household and business customers in France.
Off-peak hours are periods when electricity use is encouraged because supply is more abundant and costs are lower.
The existing system was designed in the 1960s to shift electricity use to the night, when demand was lower and nuclear power was available.
Now, solar power is often abundant in summer afternoons, while winter nights remain suitable for lower-cost electricity use.
Customers will still have eight off-peak hours each day, including at least five in a row overnight.
Their electricity suppliers will set the exact times, and customers will be told at least one month ahead and do not need to take action.
Enedis expects the change to move about 5 gigawatts of use to sunny afternoons during the summer months.
Enedis will gradually change off-peak electricity hours by season for 9.3 million households and professional customers from 1 December.
The second phase of a reform aims to shift electricity use to times when production is more abundant and less costly.
In winter, off-peak hours will remain mainly at night, while summer schedules will make afternoon use more likely.
Customers will keep eight off-peak hours each day, including at least five consecutive hours at night.
Electricity suppliers will notify affected customers at least one month in advance, and customers will not need to take action.
- Who
- Enedis, the electricity distribution network operator, will make the changes for 9.3 million households and professional customers.
- What
- Off-peak electricity hours will vary between summer and winter as part of the second phase of a reform.
- When
- The second phase begins on 1 December 2026 and will be introduced gradually.
- Where
- In France.
- Why
- The reform aims to shift electricity use to times when production is more abundant and less costly, including sunny summer afternoons.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The first phase began, introducing afternoon off-peak hours for 1.7 million customers.
Enedis announced that 9.3 million households and professional customers would see off-peak hours vary by season.
Enedis is due to begin the second phase of the reform.
- Affected customers
- 9.3 million households and professional customers
- Daily off-peak allowance
- Eight hours, including at least five consecutive hours at night
- Winter period
- 1 November to 31 March
- Summer period
- 1 April to 31 October
- Expected shift
- About 5 gigawatts of consumption toward afternoons in sunny months
2 sources
What people are saying
In winter, the night period will remain largely suitable for off-peak hours because it is a time of lower consumption and nuclear production remains relatively abundant compared with consumption.
In summer, solar production is abundant in the afternoon, so this period becomes, and this is the change, a suitable time to consume.