French electricity company EDF has ‘red’ and ‘blue’ days on which electricity prices for users signed up to its Tempo offer may pay more or less for energy. Here is what the days mean and how to save.
What is the EDF Tempo offer?
Launched in 1998, the EDF Tempo tariff encourages customers to reduce their electricity consumption to a minimum (or nothing) during ‘red’ periods (high tension times).
This effectively ‘removes’ them from the network meaning overall electricity consumption goes down.
This is useful to EDF in times of high usage and low supply, such as if power stations are undergoing maintenance or there is a high chance of tension on the network. It helps to reduce the likelihood of power outages.
Red days are those on which Tempo customers are encouraged to reduce or stop their electricity consumption.
There are 22 red days per year which occur between November 1 and March 31. On these days the price per kWh for Tempo customers is almost three times higher than the normal rate, to encourage customers to reduce their energy use.
EDFstates that Tempo users can still save up to 24% compared to the regulated sales tariff during off-peak hours on red days if they cut down on usage. Red days never take place on the weekends, nor on public holidays.
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In contrast, on ‘blue days’ - which take place on 300 days per year - Tempo users benefit from energy prices that are 37% lower at peak times (from 06:00 to 22:00) and 40% lower at off-peak times, compared to the regulatory price.
There are also 43 ‘white days’ (low use), on which energy still costs 28% less at peak times, and 30% at off-peak.
How can I find out when the red and blue days take place?
Users can sign up for alerts via the Hello Watt website which also has a calendar that shows which days are blue, red, or white - and how many of each type remains.
Sometimes, it is not clear what colour a day will be; in this case, the day shows up as ‘orange’ until it has been decided.
Tempo offers a device with blue, white or red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which light up the day before to warn the consumer. It can be set to automatically switch off certain electrical appliances on red days when the price per kWh is high.
Users can also consult the EDF website, and download the app RTE-éCO2mix (available on Apple iOS and Android).
The website HelloWatt.fr has a calendar showing red, white, and blue days for the Tempo tariff
The red and blue days in December 2024HelloWatt.fr
A list of historical calendars of red, white, and blue days can also be seen on the Hello Watt website, as well as Tempo tariffs through the years.
What are the tariffs for each?
The exact amount per kWh depends on the power of a household’s electricity. There is a standing subscription charge for the Tempo plan, depending on power, and then a charge per kWh depending on whether it is peak or off-peak time, and if the day is red, blue, or white.
Currently, the costs per kWh are the same for each subscription, with only the monthly fee amount changing.
For example, for 6 kVA power, the subscription is €13.03 per month, and:
Blue day: Peak, €0.1609 per kWh; Off-peak, €0.1296 per kWh
White day: Peak, €0.1894 per kWh; Off-peak, €0.1486 per kWh
Red day: Peak, €0.7562 per kWh; Off-peak, €0.1568 per kWh
The monthly subscription for 9 kVA costs €16.25; 12 kVA costs €19.56; 15 kVA costs €22.45; 18 kVA costs €25.60; 30 kVA costs €38.53; and 36 kVA costs €44.71.
Tempo tariffs have risen in recent years. As an example, in 2021 the annual subscription cost was €160 for a 9 kVA meter. By 2024 it had risen to €195, an increase of some 22%.
