Off peak hours, Linky meters: major changes on way for French electricity bills

Off-peak electricity consumption hours are set to change in France next year following recommendations from the national energy commission. 

The current model is becoming outdated in light of the increase in renewable energy, seasonal variations in energy production and consumption (including from electric vehicles).

The Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE) and national electricity grid manager Enedis are working on a project to implement the rules, with the first set of recommendations to be known at the beginning of 2025, according to French media Presse Citron.

Customers benefitting from off-peak hours currently receive cheaper bills if at least 30% of their electricity consumption arises in those off-peak hours.

What are off-peak hours? 

Off-peak hours (heures creuses) are when electricity consumption is cheaper compared to peak hours (heures pleines).

There are currently eight hours of off-peak electricity per day (with the remaining 16 being charged at a full peak-hour rate). 

The exact times differ depending on your energy supplier – and your commune, which can set the hours – but rules state that the periods from 08:00 to 12:00 and 17:00 to 20:00 are always peak hours, as demand is highest at these times.

Around 15 million households subscribe to electricity plans that include off-peak rates.

People on such contracts take advantage of the cheaper electricity to run their washing machine or other appliances at night (or when they benefit from cheaper rates). 

This in turn allows for electricity consumption to be spread more evenly, avoiding an overload of the system at busy hours and weekends. 

New ‘seasonal’ rates

Changes would make the rules more complex, introducing off-peak hours that vary based on the seasons, taking advantage of increased solar production in the summer.

For example, a ‘summer’ season running from November - March would have different off-peak hours than in the winter, where they would be later.

However, the number of hours during which customers can benefit from off-peak electricity rates would not change.

Exact schedules will be made clear when the CRE and Enedis release its report, with the changes set to be introduced in phases over two to three years, beginning from August 2025.

Linky meter change 

Another major change coming next August is the requirement for households to have a Linky meter installed. 

These smart meters measure consumption in real-time, and the vast majority (around 95%) of households have one installed. 

Currently, property owners without a Linky meter can still give manual readings but from August 2025 any home without a Linky meter will be charged a monthly penalty regardless of whether owners give manual readings.

The CRE will announce at the beginning of 2025 what this penalty will be, but it is expected to be significantly higher than the current additional cost of €54.24 for those who currently do not give their readings manually. 

Read more: Households in France without a Linky meter to suffer additional costs