There are “risks” of targeted and rotating electricity cuts in France “in January” if the weather is too cold and if consumers do not reduce their consumption during alerts, warned the president of the Energy Regulation Commission Emmanuelle Wargon.
“We thought that the risks would begin in November or December, and now we are more quiet, we are really reassured on November and December, however as there have been delays (return to production of some nuclear power plants, NDR) at EDF, we have a form of concern or vigilance for January, “said Ms. Wargon on France Info.
In January, according to the forecasts published Friday by the manager of the electricity network RTE, EDF should be able to supply 40 gigawatts (GW), or 65% of the installed nuclear capacity.
At this time of the year, “we are usually around 50, or even 60 GW at the most. Now, we will be around 40, and with 40 GW, we don’t have much room for maneuver” said Mrs. Wargon.
There “will be no blackout,” the official assured. “The system blowing up, that’s not going to happen,” she said. “The worst that can happen is targeted, decided cuts that rotate from city to city,” she added.
“I am very convinced that the first day Ecowatt (red alert device, editor’s note) everyone will take it seriously” to reduce its consumption and thus avoid a cut, she continued.
Electricity transmission system operator RTE warned on Friday that there was now a “high” risk of tensions on the French power grid in January, due to the slower-than-expected restart of EDF nuclear reactors.
