France electricity off-peak hours to undergo major reorganization

France is implementing a significant reform to its electricity billing system, altering the traditional off-peak (heures creuses) and peak (heures pleines) hour schedules. This transition will affect approximately 15 million households in a phased rollout. While the first phase involved 1.7 million customers, a second phase starting in late 2024 will impact an additional 9.3 million customers, with the process continuing through late 2027.

The new system aims to better align electricity consumption with energy production, particularly to accommodate increased solar power generation during the summer. Unlike the previous fixed schedules, the new organization will be seasonal, with different hours applied during summer and winter.

Under the new rules, consumers will maintain eight off-peak hours daily. Nighttime off-peak hours will be set between 23:00 and 07:00, ensuring at least five consecutive hours. Daytime off-peak hours will occur between 11:00 and 17:00, with a maximum of three consecutive hours. This shift moves away from the historical morning and evening slots to encourage usage during periods of high renewable production, such as the afternoon.