This is the return of a measure aimed at reducing electricity consumption, which concerns homes equipped with a Linky meter: water heaters no longer turn on automatically during certain off-peak hours.
There’s a sense of déjà vu, don’t you think? Like last year, public electricity network managers, led by Enedis, can activate a measure allowing water heaters to be deactivated automatically for those who, equipped with a Linky meter, benefit from them during off-peak hours from midday, i.e. between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The measure, which caused some public outrage the previous year, has been in force since Saturday November 4. Clubic details it for you.
Millions of water heaters (and Linky meters) affected by the measurement
Once again, it was almost innocuously, via a ministerial decree taken at the start of the school year, that the measure was ratified. If you are one of the 4.2 million customers who benefit from 6 off-peak hours at night and 2 off-peak hours during the day, your water heater may no longer turn on automatically during your off-peak lunch hours, at least until March 2024. The idea? Save electricity, reduce pressure on the electricity network and thus avoid targeted outages.
The main electricity network manager in France, Enedis, claims to have reduced consumption by 2.4 GW at 12:30 p.m. last winter. This is more or less the electricity consumption of Paris. The objective is therefore to anticipate possible electricity shortages, particularly during peak hours in the cold season. Delaying the start-up of hot water tanks helps stabilize the electricity network.
Customers affected by this measure must normally receive notification from their supplier at least fifteen days before its application. Applicable since November 4, the decree authorizes entry into force of the end of automatic heating until November 1er December. As for the end of the measure, it will take place between March 9 and March 1er April 2024.
Shifting water heaters: necessary or unnecessary measure?
During this period, the water heaters will no longer turn on during the day, but only at night. But if you run a machine during the day, during your off-peak hours, you will not be impacted. The initiative only affects customers equipped with the Linky meter, which allows the water heater to not be turned on while counting consumption during off-peak hours.
Those affected can manually restart their water heater between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., but they will have to turn it off when returning during peak hours to avoid paying the full price. However, some wonder whether this measure is necessary, given the more favorable forecasts for this winter compared to the previous year.
The high-voltage network manager, Réseau de transport d’enseignement (RTE), has announced a less critical situation for the months to come. New forecasts will also be communicated on November 8, making it possible to better assess the relevance of this measure in 2023.
Source : 60 million consumers, Legifrance
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