France Télévisions will broadcast voltage alerts on the electricity network in France. This “electricity weather forecast” will materialize by displaying a pictogram on the small screen. Explanations.
Electricity Weather. This is the small name of the new device launched by France Télévisions and announced this Friday, September 23 by Delphine Ernotte, president of the public audiovisual group. The latter aims to prevent as many French people as possible from periods of tension on the electricity network. An unprecedented system between RTE and France TV relayed by our colleagues from l’AFP.
Colored pictograms
Clearly, the France Télévisions channels (France 2, France 3, France Info, etc.) will broadcast on the air pictograms in different colors (green, orange or red) depending on demand on the electricity network in France. The data will be transmitted live via the Ecowatt device which allows the population to consult the demand directly on the network.
In the event of a pictogram indicating strong tensions, viewers will be invited to modify their consumption at the moment T. Concretely, “one can, for example, start the washing machine at 10 p.m. rather than at 7 p.m. ” or start cooking the “zucchini gratin” later, warns the president of France TV. These eco-gestures, multiplied by millions of households, might make it possible to slow down consumption and avoid occasional cuts.
Objective: save 5% of consumption
The goal is not to “bring France to a halt” but to “be careful when necessary”, believes Xavier Piechaczyk, chairman of the management board at RTE Réseau de Transport, the manager of the electricity network in France. According to him, this system might allow a saving of 5% “at least” at 7 p.m.
Common sense advice will also be given during the information sessions or during the “weather and climate” bulletins. This is for France Télévisions to play its public service mission to the full. The group which claims to play its full part in the energy crisis by deploying several energy saving measures.