New Off-Peak Hours 2025: Understanding the Schedule Changes

The introduction of peak and off-peak electricity contracts (HP/HC) dates back to the 1960s, when the first nuclear power plants were commissioned in France. This system allows electricity consumers to benefit from lower electricity rates at certain times of the day. The main objective is to balance electricity demand across the national grid, while helping French households reduce their energy bills.

With the energy transition and the growing share of renewable energy, consumption patterns have evolved. Adjusting off-peak periods helps the system adapt to these changes. Here is ENGIE’s explanation.

What are the new peak and off-peak hours in 2025?

Peak and off-peak periods are defined according to electricity consumption trends, in order to maintain a balance between electricity production and demand across France.

The system divides the 24-hour day into two periods:

• 16 hours at the “peak” rate
  

• 8 hours at the “off-peak” rate, when electricity demand is lower.
  

• These hours are not always consecutive and may be split into one or two time slots, depending on what the grid operator has determined. In some cases, the 8 off-peak hours occur entirely at night, while in others there is an additional off-peak period during the day.
• It is also important to note that off-peak hours are not determined by region, municipality, or individual electricity meter. This means your off-peak schedule may differ from that of your neighbor in the same building.

The reform introduced by the CRE, known as TURPE 7, includes the shift of peak/off-peak periods starting on November 1, 2025. The new time slots will be gradually assigned from this date until the end of 2027. The changes are as follows:

• Daytime off-peak hours are now scheduled between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., for a maximum of 3 hours.
  

• Night-time off-peak hours are scheduled between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., with at least 5 off-peak hours overnight.
  

• Another major change is the introduction of different time slots in summer and winter, depending on trends and the needs of the national grid operator.
• This means there are now more potential off-peak hours during the day and fewer at night. Previously, off-peak hours were generally scheduled between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. at night, and sometimes between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. during the day.

The placement of off-peak time slots may vary between summer (April 1 to October 31) and winter (November 1 to March 31) in order to take full advantage of low-cost electricity generated by photovoltaic solar production.

For this reason, more than half of households with the option will have different off-peak schedules depending on the season.

Why are peak and off-peak hours being moved in 2025?

The HP/HC system was introduced in the 1960s, and both consumption trends and historical production methods have changed significantly since then.

The energy transition is driving the integration of renewable energy into France’s electricity mix. These sources have the particular characteristic of being intermittent, unlike nuclear or fossil-fuel power plants.

Consumption patterns have also evolved:

• Companies and industries are increasingly working to reduce their carbon footprint by optimizing energy consumption (including ENGIE).
  

• The growth of electric mobility, with more than one million electric vehicles in France.
  

• The expansion of remote work.
  

• The development of programmable electrical systems.
  

• The increase in air-conditioning systems in French homes, linked to climate change.
  

At the national level, electricity production and consumption load curves, and therefore the moments of strain on the power grid, have changed.

To address these developments, the CRE decided to shift off-peak hours to periods when electricity consumption makes the most sense, particularly when solar energy production is high. The goal is to better match reduced-price electricity periods with moments when energy is most abundant and therefore cheapest.

As renewable energy capacity increases – particularly solar photovoltaic energy – the electricity grid has more energy available during the day, when solar panels generate the most electricity, especially during sunny seasons.

Who is affected by the shift in off-peak hours?

Currently in France, 14.5 million households have chosen the peak/off-peak tariff option (around 40% of households).

Among them, 11 million households are affected by the change in off-peak time slots, particularly during the summer months. For the remaining households, there will be no major change, since many consumers already have off-peak hours scheduled between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Energy suppliers are required to inform affected customers at least one month before the new schedules take effect.

The option will still provide 8 off-peak hours per day, but they will be distributed differently to better reflect how electricity is produced today.

How can you make the most of the new off-peak hours in 2025?

In practical terms, the change in off-peak hours on November 1, 2025, has affected the daily habits of households with HP/HC contracts. They should have adjusted the times when they use electricity-intensive appliances, such as charging electric vehicles, running washing machines, tumble dryers, or heating water.

If your schedule changes, you should remember to adjust the operating times of programmable appliances. Appliances without built-in timers can be connected to an external timer or smart plug.

To maximize savings, consumers should adapt their habits and schedule high-consumption electrical appliances either around midday or late at night, when electricity is cheaper.

In summer, when the seasonal off-peak schedule comes into effect, those who may benefit most are air-conditioning users. If summer off-peak hours coincide with peaks in solar production, this will also be when you are most likely to want to turn on your air conditioning to stay cool.

People who work from home may also benefit more easily from daytime off-peak hours. The reason is simple: when you are at home, you naturally use more electricity (and it also makes it easier to start a washing cycle around lunchtime).

What advantages does the peak/off-peak option offer in 2025 ?

For households, the main advantage of the peak/off-peak system remains the same despite the 2025 changes: saving money on electricity bills.

Customers with an HP/HC contract still benefit from scheduling energy-intensive appliances during reduced-price periods, for example when heating water, charging an electric car, or running a washing machine.

Shifting off-peak periods should allow more everyday uses to be scheduled during the cheapest time slots.

However, this change also brings additional benefits. Of the 14.5 million households using the HP/HC option, 39% currently have off-peak hours split between night and daytime, some of which are poorly positioned, while 61% only have off-peak hours at night.

One advantage of the new schedules is that these households enjoy greater flexibility for daily electricity use, especially during the summer months.

This change is also collectively beneficial because it helps smooth electricity consumption and balance the national power grid.

Finally, in the medium term, household electricity bills should be better controlled, thanks to savings on infrastructure investments usually required to maintain the grid and on electricity production costs.

Explore the French version of this article