France's heatwaves cost households €57.4 million annually from power outages

A study by Compare the Market estimates that power outages during France's intense heatwaves cost French households a total of €57.4 million per year, based on an average loss of €1.90 per dwelling. The analysis, using OECD data and the SAIDI metric, notes that France’s average outage duration (0.22 hour) is lower than in Spain, Italy and Greece, but the larger population means a higher aggregate economic impact.

Another assessment puts the broader annual economic burden of French heatwaves at €3.5 billion, driven by reduced productivity, higher health expenses and increased public‑sector absenteeism. Critics argue that the state’s reactive spending on emergency measures is inefficient, calling for structural adaptations such as better building insulation and flexible work schedules to curb future costs.