French Off-Peak Electricity Rates Require 26 Percent Usage for Savings

Understanding the 26 Percent Threshold for Electricity Savings

The off-peak option operates by splitting a day into two distinct price brackets. While the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) is lower during the eight designated off-peak hours, it is higher during peak hours. Because the subscription fee remains identical regardless of the chosen option, the profitability of the off-peak plan depends entirely on shifting enough consumption to the cheaper time slots.

How the 2026 Pricing Structure Works

As of February 2026, the cost of electricity in the off-peak bracket was reduced more significantly than in the peak bracket. For a 6 kVA connection under the regulated tariff, the off-peak rate is 0.1579 € per kWh, while the peak rate is 0.2065 € per kWh. In comparison, the standard “Base” option is priced at 0.194 € per kWh.

Because peak hours are now more expensive than the “Base” rate, failing to meet the usage threshold can result in higher annual costs. For example, Selectra notes that a household consuming 6,000 kWh per year that shifts 40 percent of its usage to off-peak hours can save over 40 € annually. However, if that same household shifts only 10 percent of its consumption, the “Base” option becomes the more economical choice.

Practical Steps for Shifting Consumption

Reaching the necessary threshold—often cited between 26 percent and 35 percent depending on the specific offer—requires moving high-energy tasks to off-peak periods. These eight hours are set by the network manager, Enedis, and are not chosen by the consumer. While these hours frequently occur at night, they can also fall during the middle of the day, particularly when solar energy production is high.

To reach the 26 to 30 percent target, experts suggest the following strategies:

• Programming the electric water heater (ballon d’eau chaude) to operate exclusively during off-peak hours using a contactor.
• Scheduling energy-intensive appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, and tumble dryers to run during off-peak periods.
• Charging electric vehicles at night or during the designated off-peak window.
• Initiating the heating cycle for electric radiators during the end of the night.

Standard household items like televisions, refrigerators, and lighting are generally insufficient to reach these consumption targets.

Future Developments and Regulatory Changes

The landscape for electricity pricing continues to evolve. The CRE has proposed an average increase of 2.5 percent for regulated tariffs, effective August 1, 2026. This adjustment is linked to the Turpe, the tariff for the use of public electricity networks, which is one of the three core components of the regulated tariff alongside supply costs and taxes.

Furthermore, additional structural changes are scheduled throughout 2026 and 2027. Starting in August 2026, the Heures Pleines/Heures Creuses option will be available for power subscriptions as low as 3 kVA, down from the current 6 kVA minimum. Consumers are advised to regularly calculate their usage ratios, as the change of option is free for those with a Linky meter, whereas those with older meters may incur a fee of approximately 64.87 €. Consumers can determine their current ratio by dividing their total off-peak consumption by the sum of their peak and off-peak consumption and multiplying by 100.

Sources: GOUV.