
March 6, 2026
9
Min reading

1Er July 2007: this date marks the history of electricity and gas in France. It's that of the total opening of energy markets for all French consumers, businesses, communities and individuals.
For 16 years, competition has continued to progress with nearly forty energy suppliers recognized at the end of 2023. According to the latest report from the Commission for Energy Regulation (CRE) established on 31 March 2023, 37% of residential sites and 68% of non-residential sites have subscribed to market offers for electricity. For gas, the percentages rise to 77% for residential sites and 98% for non-residential sites.
What has changed when energy markets are opened to competition? What were the benefits? What are their future prospects? SirEnergies invites you to dive into the past to better understand the current debates around the electricity and gas markets.
Before the opening to competition in the 1990s, the energy market in France was a monopoly market, under state control.
This monopoly was exercised for 50 years by national companies. EDF (Electricity of France) and GDF (Gaz de France). Created by the Act of 8 April 1946 on the nationalization of electricity and gas, these companies integrate the entire electricity and gas chain, from production to sale through transport and distribution.
Before the liberalization of the market, EDF supplies 95% of the French territory with electricity. The remaining 5% is covered by ELD (Local Distribution Companies).
On the gas side, in its early years, GDF manages the production and distribution of city gas. The company expanded with the discovery of natural gas in 1951 on the Lacq field. GDF provides the majority of gas distribution, alongside municipal authorities.
After half a century of monopoly markets, the electricity and gas landscapes in France and Europe are profoundly changing, under the impetus of Europe and the global wave of liberalism.
The liberalization of the energy market is part of a global context marked by Rise of liberalism.
In the 1970s, oil shocks revealed economic and social imbalances. In many areas, State interventionism is singled out, accused of disrupting the autonomous and healthy functioning of the economy.
The energy sector is no exception to these accusations. Anglo-Saxon countries are leading the way Towards liberalization with the privatization in 1986 of British Gas in Great Britain and then Central Electricity Generating Board. In the United States, theEnergy Policy Act of 1992 allows any producer to sell their electricity to a final consumer.
In Europe, the liberalism movement is accentuated by the Official creation of the European single market on 1Er January 1993. This desire to cross borders is at odds with the existence of public companies whose monopoly and position of strength on their territory distort the competitive game.
La European directive of 1996 on electricity and the directive of 1998 on gas formalize the liberalization of the energy market. These two texts set out the principles of the future. European energy market, one competitive and supranational market. The objective is twofold: on the one hand, to secure the supply of electricity and natural gas to European countries; on the other hand, to make energy accessible to all by reducing costs as a result of competition.
The liberalization of the electricity and gas sectors has focused on energy production and supply activities. It is in this last sector that the competitive market impacts consumers the most.
The opening of energy markets is reflected in a separation of production, transport, supply and distribution activities.
Transformed into a public limited company, The EDF group splits into three groups : EDF (production and supply), RTE (transport network) and Enedis (distribution network). On the same principle, GDF is divided into Engie (production and supply), GRTgaz (transport network) and GRDF (distribution network).
The transport and distribution networks remain under the control of the State and local authorities. They are managed by concession companies as part of public service delegations.
The Electricity Directive is transposed into French law by the NOME law of February 10, 2000 on the New Organization of Electricity Markets. It breaks up the state monopoly by allowing any electricity producer to sell its production directly to the final consumer, without going through EDF.
It also opens up the electricity marketing activity to suppliers other than the historical supplier EDF. It's the Birth of alternative electricity and gas suppliers, intermediaries between producers and consumers.
To regulate the energy market, the NOME law creates a new body: the Electricity Regulatory Commission (CRE). Independent and impartial, CRE ensures the proper functioning of the electricity and gas markets and the respect of fair competition between suppliers, for the benefit of the final consumer. It also ensures the regulation of networks by setting their usage rates (TURP) and by ensuring the quality of service.
The NOME law is supplemented by the Law of 3 January 2003 transposing the European gas directive into French law. It extends to the gas market the provisions made three years earlier for electricity. The Electricity Regulatory Commission becomes the Energy Regulatory Commission.
The opening to competition took place gradually from 1999 to 2007. The market was opened to professionals between 1999 and 2004, before being opened for all individuals on 1Er July 2007.
The opening of the electricity and gas markets was presented as an opportunity to secure energy production and energy supply, and to lower prices for consumers. 16 years later, the benefits are real but nuanced.
The fall in energy prices linked to competitive competition is the point that is the most debated. Opinions differ. Already in 2014, The National Energy Ombudsman gave a mixed picture of prices, saying that “the professional or individual consumer did not benefit, on the contrary”.
Some periods were marked by market offers at attractive prices, lower than regulated sales rates (TRV). On the other hand, since 2021, there has been a surge in electricity and gas prices on consumers' final bills.
Did the opening of markets make it possible to control prices? Or on the contrary, did it encourage their increase?
Answering these questions is complex today, as energy costs have been — and still are — impacted by external causes affecting production, consumption and prices: catch-up in electricity rates, increase in natural gas prices, increase in taxes national wars and conflicts, Covid-19 health crisis, energy and environmental crisis, decline in nuclear production, threat to hydraulics due to drought, etc.
Combined gas/electricity offers, offers with guaranteed or indexed fixed prices, 100% green offers...: the opening of energy markets to competition has resulted in a diversity of offers for the consumer. Thanks to the freedom of choice of the supplier And at the comparison of offers, the customer can choose the contract and the price formula that best suits his consumption needs.
The competitive game between alternative electricity and gas suppliers and with the historical supplier EDF was also accompanied by a improving the quality of service provided to customers, with offers available online and committed customer services. Thanks to the Châtel law and the progress of digitalization, it is now possible, in a few minutes, to change energy supplier, without justification, at no cost, and without interruption of supply.
💡 If, for businesses and local authorities, market offers may seem complex to understand, SirEnergies experts help you choose the most relevant offer in relation to your consumption and your needs. Contact us
The development of a competitive market has favored the development of new offers oriented towards renewable energies.
Between the “green” offers of traditional suppliers and the entry into the market of alternative “green”, cooperative and activist suppliers, Market liberalization supports the development of renewable energies in France and the energy transition.
According to key renewable energy figures published in 2022 by the Ministry of Energy Transition, the primary production of renewable energies has increased by more than 85% since 2005, a large part of which comes from private electricity and gas producers. The share of renewable energies in final consumption increased by 11.5 points between 2005 and 2022.
Since 2021 and the inflationary crisis, energy markets have been under the spotlight. Discussions are heating up between advocates of a return to monopoly and advocates of the competitive model.
However, all agree on the need foropen a debate on the electricity and gas markets in order to control prices. All eyes are now on the electricity market, which is at the heart of debates in France and Europe.
In France, the End of ARENH As of December 31, 2025 worried. By allowing alternative suppliers to buy a share of nuclear electricity at reduced costs, this regulated access to historic nuclear electricity mechanism balances the competitive game and passes on the competitiveness of nuclear power to consumers.
The end of the system could call these principles into question. On November 14, 2023, the State and EDF signed a Agreement on a future regulatory framework from 2026. It defines a reference selling price for nuclear electricity “around 70 euros per megawatt hour (MWh)”, greater than the ARENH amount of €42/MWh. In return, the excess income received by EDF in the event of higher prices on wholesale markets should be returned to consumers, regardless of their supplier.
One public consultation is launched with consumer associations, suppliers, manufacturers and other market players. Already, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CRE) and the Competition Authority (ADLC) have called for the preservation of “fair conditions of competition between EDF and its competitors in order to optimize the consequences for consumers”.
Objective: to validate the regulatory framework in the future Energy Sovereignty Law in 2024.
The evolution of the electricity market in France could be coupled with a future reform of the European electricity market.
In its proposal of 14 March 2023, the European Commission wants uncorrelate the price of electricity from that of fossil fuels, and in particular gas. More generally, it wants to guarantee better consumer protection, more stability for businesses through long-term contracts and the development of green electricity.
After an agreement on 17 October between European energy ministers, tripartite negotiations between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Member States should start in 2024.
Whatever the results of the national and European negotiations, The reforms of the electricity market should continue to be open to competition committed since the 1990s, with consumer protection as a focus.

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Among the taxes include TICFE, TICGN, CTA, CJA and TURPE. They represent a significant part of the bill and vary according to consumption profiles. Understanding them well is essential to optimize costs.
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Some businesses may obtain a partial or total exemption from the TICFE or the TICGN, depending on their activity and energy intensity. The support of an expert makes it possible to identify the eligibility criteria and to put together the file.
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Le dispositif ARENH a laissé place au VNU (Versement Nucléaire Universel).
Ce changement structurel expose davantage les entreprises aux prix de gros, rendant la gestion des risques plus complexe qu'auparavant.
Il devient alors indispensable de définir une stratégie d'achat d'électricité avec Sirenergies pour lisser l'impact de la volatilité des marchés sur votre budget.
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The central objective of PPE 3 is to engage France towards carbon neutrality by 2050 by breaking the country's historical dependence on fossil fuels.
Today, approximately 60% of final energy consumption in France still relies on imported oil and natural gas. PPE 3 aims to radically reverse this trend by setting an ambitious target: to reach 60% of carbon-free energies in final consumption by 2030.
To achieve this, PPE 3 pursues three major sub-objectives:
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Chaque modèle d'IA répond à un besoin spécifique du cycle d'achat :
L'expertise humaine reste néanmoins indispensable.
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This makes it possible to choose the right time to contract, secure your budgets and anticipate increases.
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In 2025, the supplier had a NPS (Net Promoter Score) of +16 and a note of 4,17/5.
Satisfaction is based on a “zero solicitation” model and 100% in-house customer service in Toulon, guaranteeing proximity and responsiveness that cannot be found with major historical suppliers.
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Le kVA mesure la capacité maximale que votre compteur peut supporter à un instant T, tandis que le kWh mesure la quantité d'énergie consommée sur une durée.
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La Multiannual Energy Programming (PPE) is the strategic management tool for France's energy policy. Established by the 2015 law on energy transition for green growth (LTECV), it serves as a compass for the State, communities and businesses.
Concretely, the PPE sets the priorities for action of the public authorities for the management of all forms of energy on the national territory. It covers a period of ten years, divided into two periods of five years, and must be revised periodically to adapt to technological and economic developments.
It deals with major topics such as:
It is crucial not to confuse it with National Low Carbon Strategy (SNBC). While SNBC sets carbon budgets (the ceilings for greenhouse gas emissions by sector), the PPE determines the technical and energy resources to achieve them.
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Ce seuil est jugé élevé par rapport aux prévisions actuelles du marché. Si le prix de l'électricité reste en dessous de 78 €/MWh, les entreprises ne bénéficieront d'aucune redistribution. Cela signifie que la protection promise par la réforme pourrait être inexistante dans un marché baissier, d'où l'importance de stratégies de sourcing agiles et d'outils de monitoring comme Pilott.
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Instauré en 2017, ce dispositif répond à un enjeu de sécurité nationale.
L'électricité ne se stockant pas à grande échelle, le réseau doit être capable de répondre instantanément à la demande, même lors des pics de froid hivernaux. Le mécanisme incite financièrement les producteurs à maintenir leurs centrales disponibles et les entreprises à réduire leur consommation (effacement) lors de ces périodes critiques.
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Farms are subject to taxes such as TICFE or TICGN. Sirenergies verifies their application, identifies cases of exemption and accompanies the procedures to reduce the tax burden.
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Non. L'IA traite la donnée (data processing), mais l'analyste apporte la compréhension du contexte (market sentiment) et la prise de décision stratégique.
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En 2025, la France a atteint un solde exportateur net de 92,3 TWh, battant le précédent record de 2024 (89 TWh).
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Exceeding capacity leads to financial penalties and can impact the size of the contract. Adjust the correctly subscribed power makes it possible to avoid these additional costs.
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One invoice consists of several elements: consumption, supplier share, taxes and contributions. The analysis of each line makes it possible to identify possible errors and to check the consistency with the signed contract.
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Ce record de 92,3 TWh s'explique par la conjonction de trois facteurs :
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L'abondance de production française tire les prix du marché de gros vers le bas.
En vertu du mécanisme de l'Ordre de Mérite (Merit Order), les centrales les moins coûteuses (nucléaire, renouvelables) couvrent la demande plus souvent, évinçant les centrales à gaz ou charbon plus onéreuses.
Cela multiplie les épisodes de prix bas, voire négatifs, sur le marché spot.
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Tertiary companies must manage their energy costs while guaranteeing the comfort of users (offices, shops, services). Consumption is often linked to heating, air conditioning and lighting, which requires precise monitoring to avoid budgetary excesses.
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La fin de l'ARENH (Accès Régulé à l'Électricité Nucléaire Historique) marque l'arrêt de la fourniture d'électricité à prix fixe garanti (42 €/MWh).
Dès le 1er janvier 2026, les entreprises sont exposées aux prix de marché, mais deux nouveaux mécanismes de régulation prennent le relais, bien que leur logique soit différente :
Conseil stratégique : Ne comptez pas sur le VNU pour réduire votre facture en 2026 si les marchés restent stables. Auditez vos contrats dès maintenant pour intégrer une part de prix fixe ou explorer des "Power Purchase Agreements" (PPA) pour sécuriser vos coûts sur le long terme.
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The industry is concerned by TICFE, TICGN and other contributions that may represent an important part of invoices. Sirenergies identifies cases of exemption and accompanies the procedures to benefit from them.
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Yes. The supplier guarantees an offer 100% renewable via the official Guarantees of Origin (GO) mechanism.
For the most demanding companies, the offer GREENVOLT+ ensures very low carbon intensity electricity, sourced exclusively from independent French producers (hydraulic, wind, solar).
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C'est le levier le plus rapide pour obtenir des résultats visibles. L'éclairage représente environ 40 % de la consommation d'électricité d'une commune.
Passer au LED avec pilotage intelligent permet de réduire la facture de 50 à 80 %, avec un retour sur investissement (ROI) rapide, souvent estimé à 2 ou 3 ans.
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Un appel d’offres permet de mettre en concurrence plusieurs fournisseurs d’électricité et de gaz afin d’obtenir des conditions contractuelles optimisées. C’est une démarche transparente qui permet de choisir l’offre la plus adaptée aux besoins budgétaires et techniques de l’organisation.
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Car les marchés dépendent de facteurs exogènes imprévisibles (géopolitique, météo soudaine, politique) que les modèles basés sur l'historique ne peuvent pas anticiper, tout comme on ne prédit pas le Loto.
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The €/MWh is a price unit used in wholesale markets, while kWh is the unit visible on your bills.
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The subscribed power must be calculated according to the consumption profile and uses (heating, industrial processes, tertiary equipment). One fine analysis makes it possible to ensure the adequacy between real need and contract.
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Oui, elle est considérée comme une énergie renouvelable à faibles émissions de gaz à effet de serre.
De plus, l'eau ne subit aucune transformation chimique durant le cycle de production et réintègre son milieu naturel en aval.
Cependant, la construction de barrages nécessite des mesures pour protéger les écosystèmes (débit minimum, passes à poissons).
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These are signals sent by RTE during periods of tension on the electrical network. The Sirenergies tool informs you in real time to anticipate your uses.
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Le processus repose sur l'utilisation de la force de l'eau (énergie cinétique) issue des courants, des chutes d'eau ou des dénivelés. Le fonctionnement suit trois étapes clés :
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C'est l'indicateur d'efficacité d'un appareil électrique ; il représente le ratio entre la puissance active (utile) et la puissance apparente (totale).
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Le prix Forward est fixé à l'avance (sécurité budgétaire), tandis que le prix Spot varie heure par heure selon le marché (opportunité mais risque élevé).
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Le transport (RTE) correspond aux "autoroutes" de l’électricité. Il s’agit de transporter de très grandes quantités d'énergie sur de longues distances, depuis les centrales de production (nucléaires, barrages, parcs éoliens offshore) vers les régions de consommation.
La distribution (Enedis) s'apparente aux "routes départementales" et aux rues. Elle récupère l'électricité à la sortie du réseau de transport pour la livrer directement chez le client final, en abaissant la tension pour qu'elle soit utilisable par vos appareils.
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Absolument. La réforme des heures creuses vise à absorber la surproduction solaire en milieu de journée. Les créneaux d'heures creuses se déplacent progressivement vers la plage 11h00 – 17h00, notamment en été. C'est une opportunité majeure pour les sites industriels ou tertiaires capables de flexibilité.
Conseil stratégique :
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The range E @sy is available in four pricing structures to adapt to each risk profile:
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Sourcing consists in identifying and analysing the offers of several electricity and gas suppliers. This approach makes it possible to obtain contracts adapted to the consumption profile and budgetary constraints of the company.
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L'impact dépendra des prix de marché. Le mécanisme prévoit une redistribution si les prix dépassent 78 €/MWh. Cependant, si les cours restent bas (actuellement autour de 60 €/MWh), le dispositif ne s'activera pas. La facture sera alors indexée à 100% sur les prix de marché, rendant le choix du fournisseur et du moment d'achat critiques.
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Tertiary companies are concerned by taxes such as TICFE or TICGN. Sirenergies checks the accuracy of invoices, identifies possible exemptions, and helps correct errors to sustainably reduce costs.
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Parce que la puissance souscrite en kVA détermine le prix de l'abonnement et que tout dépassement peut entraîner des surcoûts importants.
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L'augmentation s'explique par la revalorisation de l'Accise sur le gaz à 16,39 €/MWh et la hausse de 3,41 % du tarif de transport (ATRT 8).
S'y ajoute l'entrée en vigueur des Certificats de Production de Biogaz (CPB), un nouveau coût réglementaire pour soutenir le biométhane.
Face à ces évolutions, Sirenergies vous accompagne dans l'achat de gaz naturel pour sécuriser vos prix malgré la volatilité du marché.
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La Vente de Nucléaire Universelle (VNU) est le nouveau mécanisme de régulation des prix de l'électricité en France. Contrairement à l'ARENH, il ne s'agit plus d'un volume fixe à prix réduit, mais d'une redistribution financière des revenus excédentaires d'EDF aux consommateurs, basée sur les prix de marché et les coûts de production du nucléaire historique.
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Communities are subject to taxes such as TICFE or TICGN. Sirenergies analyzes invoices, identifies exemption possibilities and fixes possible errors to reduce the tax burden.

