The "peak hours / off-peak hours" option (HP / HC) no longer fulfills its promises.
Worse, it can cost money.
A height for this offer created in the 1960s to fight against the surge in bills.
"The share of electric heating in France means that at the slightest cold snap, consumption soars," recalls François Carlier, general delegate of the CLCV association.
Postponing part of this consumption at night made it possible to limit breakage.
"
“The problem is that the evolution of tariffs has completely reduced the interest of this system, deplores Vincent Maillard, formerly of EDF and co-founder of the supplier Plüm Énergie.
As a result, today in 85% of cases, the price differential between peak and off-peak hours can no longer compensate for the additional subscription.
At best, households gain nothing by subscribing to it.
But in half of the cases, it inflates the bills.
"
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In many cases, the HP / HC device causes its subscribers to lose several tens of euros per year.
And 450 million euros nationwide.
“A few years ago, for the peak hours / off-peak hours option to be financially attractive, it was enough to consume around 30% of its electricity in off-peak hours, also warns the Mediator of Energy (who also offers its own calculator on calculettes.energie-info.fr).
Today, we are rather around 50 to 60%.
"
Except that postponing more than half of its electricity consumption during off-peak hours, mainly at night, is far from within the reach of all individuals.
"We have indeed observed that the option requires an increasingly important deferral of consumption to be interesting", we admit to the management of EDF (which has 11.8 million subscribers option base, for 10.7 million at off-peak hours).
This is confirmed by an executive from the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), which sets electricity prices: “It benefits fewer and fewer households.
It should be changed.
»Only cases where it can possibly still have some economic advantages: if you have an electric vehicle, for example, a swimming pool or a large electric water heater.
For others, go your way.
"Today, it is clearly the role of the supplier to advise on the most suitable offer," said a marketing manager from Total Direct Énergie.
Even if it means encouraging them to migrate to a more economical option.
"
Linky allows you to change tariffs free of charge
Good news: switching from an HP / HC offer to a classic offer no longer costs a cent if your household is equipped with a Linky meter.
The communicating meter, the deployment of which began in 2015 and which today equips 70% of the national park, now allows technicians to operate remotely.
Those still equipped with an older electric meter, or even a mechanical device will have to pay up to 56 euros for intervention costs.
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Linky also allows suppliers to offer offers more suited to new uses.
However, on condition that you authorize access to consumption data.
Like “My Zen Days plus” at EDF, which allows you to benefit from “off-peak” pricing all weekend, plus one day during the week.
Total Direct Énergie, for its part, offers the “Super off-peak” offer, which supplements the classic off-peak hour, with an even lower rate between two and six in the morning.
When contacted, the Energy Transition Agency (formerly Ademe), yet responsible for supporting environmental protection and energy management policies, did not wish to answer our questions.
