Off-peak hours reform: what are the impacts for your business?

It is a small revolution in the world of energy: after 60 years of existence, the off-peak system evolves from the 1^Er November 2025.

Introduced as part of the TURP 7, this reform responds to the new challenges of the electrical system, which has been disrupted by the rise of renewable energies and the evolution of uses.

Between new time slots and seasonality, this reform is reshuffling the cards and opening up new opportunities for businesses.

Presented by the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), this reform was widely welcomed by energy players.

But in concrete terms, what will it change for your business?

And above all, how can you use it as a lever to sustainably reduce your electricity bill?

Off-peak hours/Full hours: the founding principles

Electricity cannot be stored.

The slightest imbalance between consumption and production weakens the network and prices.

Off-peak hours (HC) and peak hours (HP) meet this need for balance.

Off peak hours/Full hours: back to the origins

The off-peak hours (HC) and peak hours (HP) system coincided with the commissioning of the first nuclear power plants in the 1960s.

The objective?

Better balance the electrical system by limiting consumption peaks.

To achieve this, a incentive rate is set up. It encourages consumers to shift some of their electricity consumption to hours when demand is low.

Concretely, 8 off-peak hours are defined every day, backed by a reduced price per kWh. These time slots are generally positioned at night, between 22 p.m. and 6 a.m., and covered by nuclear production.

Are off-peak and peak hours accessible to businesses?

Businesses can benefit from differentiated pricing for off-peak hours and peak hours.

However, the system varies according to the power purchased:

• If the subscribed power is less than or equal to 36 kVA, businesses can take advantage of the HP/HC option, such as individuals.
• If the power is greater than 36 kVA, businesses can take out a contract offering seasonal rates, broken down into four main items (peak hours high season, off-peak season, peak hours low season, peak hours low season, peak hours low season).

Who sets the off-peak hours?

It is Enedis Who has control over the off-peak hours.

For each consumer, the network operator sets the time slots “depending on the operating conditions and the local capacity of the public distribution network”.

So it is Unable to change the time range offered by the electricity supplier in the HP/HC option.

What does the off-peak hours reform change from 2025?

From the 1^Er November 2025, the peak hours and off-peak hours (HP/HC) system is changing profoundly.

Why reform the HP/HC system?

For over 60 years, off-peak hours and peak hours have been based on the same principle: balancing electricity consumption and production in real time.

However, today, The offer is changing.

Renewable energies — and in particular solar electricity - produce at full capacity during the day.

These production peaks destabilize the network and markets, generating negative prices.

Faced with the necessary energy transition and decarbonization process, Slowing down the development of renewable energies is not an option.

The reform therefore seeks to restore the balance of supply and demand during the day, by reorienting consumption towards the hours when The Sun is at its zenith. Connected and programmable devices facilitate this change of use.

The principles of the new off-peak/peak hours periods

The reform profoundly changes the system of off-peak and peak hours. Only one principle remains: maintaining the number of off-peak hours at 8.

The new off-peak hours are set according to the following principles:

• A minimum of 5 consecutive off-peak hours at night, between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• An increase in the number of off-peak hours during the day, with a maximum of 3 off-peak hours in the afternoon between 11 am and 5 pm.
• A possibility of differentiating off-peak hours according to the seasons to adapt consumption to renewable electricity production: summer, from 1^Er April to October 31, off-peak hours will be placed primarily during the day, while in winter, from 1^Er November to March 31, the night period will be preferred.
• The exclusion of the off-peak hours system from certain time slots Under voltage, for example in the morning between 7 am and 11 am and in the evening between 5 pm and 9 pm (slots vary according to the season).

Off-peak hours remain determined by the network operator Enedis.

According to the consumption profiles And the local constraints on the electrical network, customers may be offered off-peak hours only at night, with or without seasonality, or a distribution of off-peak hours at night and during the day, with or without seasonality.

A gradual introduction of new off-peak hours

If the reform comes into force on 1^Er November 2025, its implementation is progressive until the end of 2027 in order to allow the adaptation of each electricity meter.

Enedis will inform electricity suppliers of the possibilities of HP/HC options six months before they are applied. They will have to transmit the information to their customers at least one month before the change.

How can you take advantage of off-peak hours to reduce your electricity bill?

The majority of businesses consume the majority of their electricity during the day.

The shift from off-peak hours in the afternoon is an opportunity to seize to save on your energy bill.

A single principle: shift your electricity consumption to off-peak hours

The kWh rate during off-peak hours costs less than during peak hours. Even if the price of the HP/HC subscription is slightly higher, consuming during these time slots is still advantageous.

Reducing your electricity bill requires adapting your consumption habits by Shifting energy-intensive uses to off-peak hours : industrial production processes, electricity-intensive equipment (electric oven, air compressor, etc.), electric vehicle charging, heating and air conditioning, hot water production by a heat pump, etc.

These uses can be programmed intelligently using connected and automated devices And of a System of centralized energy management.

La team training is one of the keys to integrating these practices on a daily basis.

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To note: The programming of uses must be adapted according to the seasonality of off-peak hours, which can add complexity to the exercise...

An essential prerequisite: know your energy consumption well

To optimize your energy consumption and take full advantage of off-peak hours, you need to know exactly When, how and where do you use electricity.

The Diagnosis of your consumption makes it possible to identify the most energy-consuming processes, to identify consumption peaks during the day and to understand the operating cycles of your equipment.

To conduct this analysis, you can rely on various sources: your consumption data, supervisory tools or a energy audit.

Thanks to these elements, you can then prioritize your uses, determine the consumption that can be moved during off-peak hours without disturbing the activity and programming the differences.

With the Sirenergies Pilott app

Take control of your electricity consumption and take full advantage of the off-peak hours.

Thanks to our platform:
- Follow your consumption on D+1
- Analyze their evolution over time
- Spot your demand peaks in order to shift them to off-peak hours, without disrupting your business.

Learn more about Pilott

To conclude...

By readjusting the off-peak hours, the reform meets the major challenges of France's new energy landscape: rebalancing electricity supply and demand, ensuring the stability of the network and supporting the transition to a more low-carbon energy model.

For businesses, the new off-peak hours open up new leeway. Future niches allow more flexibility in electrical uses with, as a result, financial savings.

If the reform is gradually implemented, you can prepare for it today by analysing your electricity consumption and identifying alternative uses. At Sirenergies, it's our job. Do you want to know how the new off-peak hours can help you optimize your electricity bill?

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