Heures Creuses: Off-Peak Electricity Changes in France
If your business in France pays for electricity on an off-peak plan, the hours that count as heures creuses are changing. Some off-peak time is moving from the middle of the night to the middle of the day in summer, and your new hours may not match your neighbor's. This guide explains the reform in plain English, shows you how to check your own hours and gives you a simple plan to move your biggest power users into the cheaper slots.
Key takeaways
- A reform by Enedis and the CRE is changing off-peak hours, but there are still 8 off-peak hours a day.
- At least 5 off-peak hours must be consecutive at night between 23:00 and 7:00. In summer (1 April to 31 October), up to 3 can fall between 11:00 and 17:00.
- The rollout runs from November 2025 to the end of 2027, and suppliers give about a month's notice before your hours change.
- Enedis sets the hours for each meter, so check yours in your Enedis or supplier account or on your Linky meter.
- Shift water heating, laundry, dishwashers and EV charging into your slots, using timers and smart plugs.
For years, many households and small businesses in France set their water heater, washing machine or dishwasher to run late at night, when electricity on an off-peak plan costs less. That habit still makes sense, but the timing is changing. With more solar power on the grid in the middle of the day, the system now has more cheap electricity around lunchtime in the warmer months, and the off-peak hours are being redesigned to match.
This guide is written for small business owners in France, such as cafe and restaurant owners, hairdressers, bakers, small workshops, gite and B&B hosts and home-based freelancers. It is general information, not legal, tax or energy contract advice. Tariffs and contract terms vary by supplier, so check your own contract and ask your supplier if something is unclear.
What is changing with heures creuses
Enedis, which runs most of the electricity distribution network in mainland France, and the CRE, the energy regulator, are reorganizing when off-peak hours fall. Here is what the new framework looks like.
Still 8 hours a day
The total does not change. You still get 8 off-peak hours a day on an off-peak plan. What changes is when they happen.
The new rules for timing
- Night block: at least 5 of the 8 hours must be consecutive at night, between 23:00 and 7:00.
- Summer daytime slot: in summer, from 1 April to 31 October, up to 3 hours can fall between 11:00 and 17:00.
- Winter: from 1 November to 31 March, the hours can be grouped at night.
Because this article is published in late November, many readers are already in the winter pattern. Use the next few months to plan for the summer slot, when moving some power use to the middle of the day could pay off.
When your meter will switch
The rollout runs from November 2025 to the end of 2027, so not every meter changes at once. Your supplier should give you about a month's notice before your hours change. If you have not heard anything yet, your switch may simply not have come up.
Who is not affected
Tempo customers, Corsica and the overseas territories are excluded from this reform. If you are in one of these groups, your current arrangement continues under its own rules, so check with your supplier.
Common mistake
Assuming your hours are the same as the business next door. Enedis sets the hours for each meter, so neighbors can differ, even in the same street or building. Always check your own meter before you reprogram timers.
How to check your own off-peak hours
Before you change anything, find out exactly when your off-peak hours are now and whether a change is coming. There are three easy places to look.
- Your Enedis account. Log in to your customer space on the Enedis site, which shows information about your meter and its time slots.
- Your supplier account. Your supplier's online account or app, and your bills, often show your current off-peak schedule. Look for notices about a change.
- Your Linky meter. Scroll through the display on your Linky meter to see the current tariff period and related information.
- Write it down. Note your current hours and any new hours announced by your supplier, with the date they take effect.
- Set a reminder. Put the change date in your calendar so you remember to adjust timers and staff routines on the day.
Pro tip
Take a photo of your Linky display and your current timer settings before anything changes. When the notice arrives, you will have a clear before and after, and you can update everything in one go.
Which business loads to shift
Not every appliance is worth moving. Focus on the ones that use a lot of power and can run at a different time without hurting your work or your customers.
Good candidates
- Water heating. An electric water heater (chauffe-eau or ballon) is often the easiest win. It can heat the tank during off-peak hours and keep hot water ready for the day.
- Laundry. Salons, gites, B&Bs, small hotels and restaurants wash towels, linens and uniforms. Washing machines and dryers can often run in an off-peak slot.
- Dishwashers. Cafes and restaurants can run a final load at closing or schedule it for the right window.
- EV charging. If you charge a company car or van on site, charging is one of the most flexible loads you have.
Loads to leave alone
Some equipment needs to run when it needs to run. Refrigeration, ovens during service, point-of-sale systems and anything tied to customer opening hours should stay where they are. Saving a little on electricity is not worth spoiled stock or unhappy customers.
Tools that make shifting easy
You do not need an expensive energy management system to benefit. A few simple tools do most of the work.
- Built-in delay timers. Many washing machines, dryers and dishwashers have a delayed start button. Load them at closing and set the start time for your off-peak window.
- Water heater contactor or timer. Many electric water heaters are wired to switch on with the off-peak signal. If yours runs on a separate timer, it needs adjusting when your hours change. Ask an electrician if you are not sure how yours is set up.
- Smart plugs. For smaller appliances that can run unattended, a smart plug with a schedule can switch them on and off at set times. Check the plug's power rating before using it with a large appliance.
- EV charger scheduling. Most chargers and many cars let you set a charging schedule. Match it to your off-peak hours.
Whatever tools you use, check current features, pricing and privacy policies before you buy, especially for app-connected devices.
Your off-peak shifting plan template
Copy this table into a spreadsheet and fill in one row for each appliance you might shift. The appliances, hours and notes below are made-up examples for illustration only.
| Appliance | Current run time (example) | Winter off-peak slot (example) | Summer off-peak slot (example) | How to schedule | Who checks it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric water heater | Whenever needed | Night block | Night block plus midday top-up | Off-peak contactor or timer | Owner |
| Towel washing machine | 18:00 at closing | Delay start to night block | Run at 12:00 in daytime slot | Built-in delay timer | Closing staff |
| Delivery van charger | Plugged in on arrival | Night block | Night block or midday slot | Charger app schedule | Driver |
Keep the sheet next to your meter information. When your supplier announces new hours, update the two slot columns and reprogram each device in one session.
Hypothetical example
Imagine Camille, who runs a small hair salon in Lyon on an off-peak plan. She washes a large load of towels every evening and has an electric water heater for the basins. When her supplier sends notice of new hours, she checks her Enedis account and finds her winter hours are grouped at night, with a midday slot due in summer. Camille sets the washing machine's delay timer to start in the night block for now and adds a reminder for 1 April to try a midday wash during the quiet hour after lunch. She asks her electrician to confirm the water heater switches with the off-peak signal. The setup takes one afternoon, and her team knows exactly what to do at closing.
Your heures creuses checklist
- Check whether you are on an off-peak plan, and note any exclusion such as Tempo
- Find your current off-peak hours in your Enedis or supplier account or on your Linky
- Watch for your supplier's notice, which comes about a month before a change
- List your water heater, laundry, dishwasher and EV charging as shifting candidates
- Leave refrigeration and customer-facing equipment on their normal schedule
- Set delay timers, smart plugs and charger schedules to your current slots
- Ask an electrician how your water heater is wired if you are unsure
- Plan a summer routine for the possible 11:00 to 17:00 slot from 1 April
- Update the template and reprogram devices on the day your hours change
Frequently asked questions
Will I still get 8 off-peak hours a day?
Yes. The reform keeps 8 off-peak hours a day. At least 5 must be consecutive at night between 23:00 and 7:00, and in summer up to 3 can fall between 11:00 and 17:00. In winter, they can be grouped at night.
Why are my hours different from my neighbor's?
Enedis sets the hours for each meter, so neighbors can have different off-peak times. Always check your own Enedis or supplier account, or your Linky meter, rather than copying someone else's settings.
When will my off-peak hours change?
The rollout runs from November 2025 to the end of 2027. Your supplier should give you about a month's notice before your hours change, so keep an eye on emails, letters and your online account.
Does the reform apply to Tempo or to Corsica?
No. Tempo customers, Corsica and the overseas territories are excluded. If you are in one of these groups, check your arrangement with your supplier.
Related reading
The bottom line
The heures creuses reform keeps the same 8 off-peak hours a day but moves some of them, with a possible midday slot in summer and hours set meter by meter. For a small business, the opportunity is simple: know your own hours, move flexible loads like water heating, laundry, dishwashers and EV charging into them, and let timers do the remembering.
Spend half an hour this week checking your Enedis or supplier account, filling in the template and setting your timers. When the notice for your new hours arrives, you will be ready to update everything in a single afternoon.
