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Peak and Off-Peak Hours with Linky in 2026
Mentioned by the French Government as part of the "Energy Sobriety Plan," the peak and off-peak pricing option is popular among many French households aiming to sustainably reduce their electricity bills. Since November 2025, off-peak hours have changed: they are no longer the same everywhere and can vary depending on the season and local electricity network. Thanks to your Linky smart meter, it is now simple to know your exact off-peak hours and adjust your consumption to maximize savings.
Article Summary
- The peak hours / off-peak hours tariff allows you to pay less for electricity (kWh) during certain time slots and shift your consumption to reduce your electricity bill.
- Since November 2025, off-peak hours have been evolving and are gradually distributed between a nighttime slot and a daytime slot, with schedules that vary depending on the season and are set locally by Enedis.
- The Linky smart meter allows you to see your exact off-peak hours and optimize the use of energy-intensive appliances to maximize your savings.
In France, there are two main electricity pricing modes: base rate and peak/off-peak rate. Widely chosen by French households, the latter often translates into energy savings—provided you understand the system and take full advantage of it. ENGIE explains how it works.
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Understanding how peak and off-peak hours work
What are peak/off-peak hours?
Peak/off-peak electricity contracts offer different kWh prices depending on the time of day:
During peak hours: the kWh price is higher than the base rate, corresponding to periods of high electricity demand.
During off-peak hours: the kWh price is lower, ideal for running energy-intensive appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, tumble dryers, or using a programmable electric water heater.
This pricing system encourages more balanced electricity consumption throughout the day and is particularly suited to homes that use electricity for water heating and space heating.
Peak/Off-Peak and Day/Night Rates
The peak/off-peak pricing is also called the day/night rate, often abbreviated as HP/HC. By contrast, when the price does not vary by time of day, it is referred to as the base rate or “simple metering.”
Major update: new peak and off-peak hours since November 2025
Since November 1, 2025, off-peak hours have changed across France as part of a reform implemented by Enedis and the “Commission de régulation de l’énergie” (CRE), running through 2027. The reform aims to better align with renewable electricity production, especially solar power, which is more abundant during the day, and to balance the electricity grid.
What has changed? There are still 8 off-peak hours per day, now divided into:
A night slot: at least 5 consecutive hours, generally between 11 PM and 7 AM.
A daytime slot: up to 3 off-peak hours between 11 AM and 5 PM to better use locally produced electricity, particularly solar.
The placement of off-peak slots may vary between summer (April 1–October 31) and winter (November 1–March 31) to take full advantage of cheap and abundant photovoltaic energy.
Exact hours are not identical for all households; they are individually set by Enedis based on local grid conditions.
ENGIE’s guide helps you make the most of the off-peak hour shifts.
Why Linky supports the peak/off-peak option ?
With the rollout of the Linky smart meter, Enedis can assign and manage off-peak hours individually at the meter level according to local grid conditions. This reform could not have been implemented at scale without the smart meter.
Unlike older meters, Linky allows Enedis to remotely configure and adjust time slots with precision, without any on-site technical intervention.
With your Linky meter, you gain a major advantage: near real-time tracking of your peak and off-peak electricity consumption. This visibility helps you understand usage, identify energy-intensive devices, and adjust habits to better control your electricity bill.
Linky also allows certain devices, such as water heaters or programmable appliances, to operate automatically during off-peak hours when the kWh price is lower.
The more you shift consumption to off-peak hours, the greater your savings—provided you adapt your usage to these time slots.
How to know your peak and off-peak hours
Peak and off-peak hours are determined individually by Enedis. In the same area, a neighbor may have different off-peak hours than you. The most reliable way to know your household’s hours is to check your electricity bill in your Customer Space or contact your electricity supplier.
How to use the peak/off-peak option with Linky
Subscribing to Linky peak/off-peak
If you want to benefit from peak/off-peak pricing and you have a Linky meter as 95% of French households do, the process is simple: contact your electricity supplier to switch your subscription to an appropriate plan. Your supplier will request Enedis to remotely reprogram your meter. In a few hours, you can enjoy peak/off-peak hours.
Switching back to the base rate is just as easy.
ENGIE customers can make the request directly in their Customer Space. Not yet a customer? Choose this option when signing up for a new contract.
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For older meters, If you have a conventional meter, peak/off-peak pricing is possible but requires manual meter adjustment. A technician visit is required.
Reading peak and off-peak hours on Linky
To check your off-peak hours on your Linky meter, scroll through the data using the "+" and "-" buttons on the display. The screen shows real-time kWh consumption for off-peak (HC) and peak (HP) hours.
If your Linky off-peak display does not work, contact your supplier, who will send a technician if needed.
Managing your consumption to make the most of it
Now that you know your off-peak hours, adjust your habits to maximize benefits. Typically, the break-even point is reached when 40–50% of your consumption occurs during off-peak hours.
Shift any flexible usage to off-peak hours: program your washing machine, dryer, or dishwasher.
Also, focus on the two most energy-demanding appliances: your electric water heater and electric heating. For example, with a Linky day/night switch, you can ensure your water heater operates during off-peak hours.
Key takeaways on peak/off-peak hours with Linky
The option offers cheaper kWh for 8 hours per day, at a higher price the rest of the time.
Historically, HP/HC subscriptions were more expensive, but as of February 2026, HP/HC and base rate subscriptions under the “Tarif Réglementé de Vente” (TRVe) are identical. At ENGIE, HP/HC subscriptions are even cheaper than base rate, making off-peak hours even more advantageous.
Off-peak hours are split into at least 5 hours at night and up to 3 hours during the day, mainly 11 AM–5 PM, depending on season and area.
Slots are defined locally by Enedis and cannot be chosen by the customer.
The change better aligns off-peak hours with electricity production, especially solar.
With Linky, Enedis manages off-peak slots remotely, while you monitor and control consumption in real-time to maximize savings.
How to check my off-peak hours ?
With a Linky meter, hours are automatically assigned; older meters use local municipal allocation.
Check your bills, contact your supplier, or visit Enedis’ website to learn more about your off-peak hours.
Off-peak time slots
There are still 8 off-peak hours daily, now divided into:
Night slot: at least 5 consecutive hours, usually 11 PM–7 AM.
- Daytime slot: up to 3 off-peak hours between 11 AM and 5 PM, to make the most of locally produced electricity (especially solar).
Can I monitor and control my peak/off-peak usage with Linky™?
Yes! Linky allows you to view real-time peak and off-peak consumption directly on the meter display. You can adjust appliance use to maximize off-peak savings. Some devices, like water heaters and programmable appliances, can even run automatically during off-peak hours.
