France: the expected reduction in TRVEs in February 2025 will mask the TURPE increase

The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has postponed the increase in the tariff for the use of public electricity networks (TURPE) until February 1, 2025, with the aim of reducing regulated electricity sales tariffs (TRVE) by 10%.

Share:

Power lines

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has decided to postpone the application of the increase in the “network tariff” (TURPE) until February 1, 2025.
This decision comes after a series of tariff adjustments linked to fluctuations in the electricity market, creating an incomprehensible “yo-yo” effect for consumers.
By postponing this 4.8% increase, which would normally have taken effect on August 1, 2024, the CRE is seeking to provide greater clarity and predictability of energy costs for households and small businesses in France.
TURPE represents a significant proportion of the electricity bill, covering the costs of electricity transmission by network operators such as Enedis.
This delayed increase should have led to a rise of almost 1% on the bills of EDF’s blue-rate customers.
However, by postponing the increase until February 1, the usual date for revising the TRVE (regulated electricity sales tariffs), the CRE hopes that it will be offset by an anticipated fall in electricity prices on the wholesale market.

Electricity price forecasts for early 2025

Electricity prices on European markets have shown signs of stabilizing at around 60 to 70 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh) in recent months.
This represents a clear improvement on the peaks of 2022, caused by the crisis in Ukraine and post-Covid disruptions.
Against this backdrop, CRE forecasts a drop of at least 10% in VERTs in February 2025, a first since the start of the energy crisis.
This estimated reduction incorporates the delayed increase in TURPE as well as the planned increase in the excise duty on electricity, which is currently being reinstated after being temporarily adjusted in response to the energy crisis.
In June, the French Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, stated that the electricity bill for French households could fall by 10-15% as early as February 2025, providing a much-needed boost for consumers.

Consequences for households and market offers

For households with regulated tariffs, a 10% reduction could mean a saving of around 200 euros a year, based on an average annual bill of 2,000 euros.
This reduction comes at a time of pressure on energy costs, where prices have risen by over 43% in two years despite government support measures.
It is important to note that the TURPE increase will apply from November 1, 2024 for the 17.5 million households and businesses that have subscribed to market offers indexed to wholesale prices.
However, electricity suppliers can choose whether or not to pass on this increase to their customers.
According to the CRE, few of them are likely to do so, as their market offers are currently around 20% lower than the TRVE prices.
This could create a competitive dynamic where market offers become more attractive for certain customer segments.

Regulation as a lever for stability

Tariff regulation by the CRE aims to mitigate the impact of volatile electricity market fluctuations on end consumers.
The postponement of the TURPE increase until February 2025 is in line with this logic of managing tariff volatility.
This is crucial at a time when electricity is becoming an increasingly predominant energy source, particularly to support the gradual decarbonization of France’s energy mix.
Electricity infrastructure requires ongoing investment to ensure security and quality of supply, and these costs are partly covered by TURPE.
CRE’s decision to maintain this increase, albeit with a time lag, reflects a balance between the need to finance the grid and the desire to protect consumers from sudden price rises.

Future challenges for the French electricity sector

In the future, managing the costs of energy and associated infrastructure will remain a key challenge for regulators and market players alike.
TURPE’s annual tariff adjustment mechanism will need to be carefully calibrated to avoid weighing on business competitiveness and household purchasing power, while ensuring adequate funding for electricity infrastructure.
The transition to greater use of electricity as an alternative energy source will also require ongoing adaptation of pricing and regulatory policies.
The CRE’s recent decisions illustrate this complexity and the need to maintain a constant dialogue between the players in France’s energy value chain.

Ghana aims to secure $16 billion in oil revenues over ten years, but the continued drop in production raises doubts about the sector’s long-term stability.
The government of Kinshasa has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam's Vingroup to develop a 6,300-hectare urban project and modernise mobility through an electric transport network.
ERCOT’s grid adapts to record electricity consumption by relying on the growth of solar, wind and battery storage to maintain system stability.
The French government will raise the energy savings certificate budget by 27% in 2026, leveraging more private funds to support thermal renovation and electric mobility.
Facing opposition criticism, Monique Barbut asserts that France’s energy sovereignty relies on a strategy combining civil nuclear power and renewable energy.
The European Commission is reviving efforts to abolish daylight saving time, supported by several member states, as the energy savings from the practice are now considered negligible.
Rising responses to UNEP’s satellite alerts trigger measurement, reporting and verification clauses; the European Union sets import milestones, Japan strengthens liquefied natural gas traceability; operators and steelmakers adjust budgets and contracts.
The Finance Committee has adopted an amendment to overhaul electricity pricing by removing the planned redistribution mechanism and capping producers' profit margins.
The European Commission unveils a seven-point action plan aimed at lowering energy costs, targeting energy-intensive industries and households facing persistently high utility bills.
The European Commission plans to keep energy at the heart of its 2026 agenda, with several structural reforms targeting market security, governance and simplification.
The new Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)–Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai) axis combines a nuclear restart, targeted fuel tax cuts and energy subsidies, with immediate effects on prices and risk reallocations for operators. —
German authorities have ruled out market abuse by major power producers during sharp price increases caused by low renewable output in late 2024.
A new International Energy Agency report urges Maputo to accelerate energy investment to ensure universal electricity access and support its emerging industry.
Increased reliance on combined-cycle plants after the April 28 blackout pushed gas use for electricity up by about 37%, bringing total demand to 267.6 TWh and strengthening flows to France.
The United States announces a tariff increase beyond the 10% base rate targeting several Colombian products. Bogotá has recalled its ambassador. The detailed list of tariff lines has not yet been published, while Colombia’s ban on coal exports to Israel remains in effect.
The president-elect outlines a pro-market agenda: gradual reform of fuel subsidies, review of Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) lithium contracts, and monetization of gas transit between Argentina and Brazil, prioritizing supply stabilization.
A three-year partnership has been signed between Senegal and two Quebec-based companies to develop the country’s geoscientific capacity and structure its energy sector through technological innovation.
The South African government plans 105,000 MW of additional capacity by 2039 to redefine its energy mix, support industrialisation, and strengthen supply security.
The Dutch government is initiating legislative reform to extend the Borssele nuclear plant until 2054 and has formalised the creation of a public entity to develop two new reactors.
The United Kingdom unveils a structured plan to double clean energy jobs, backed by over £50 billion ($61.04bn) in private investment and the creation of new training centres across industrial regions.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.