Are you one of the households equipped with a Linky meter that may experience power cuts during the winter? This question is found in many discussions, since the publication of a decree in the Official Journal on September 27th. Enedis, with the various electricity suppliers, will suspend the automatic switching signal during an off-peak time slot of the day, which will have the effect of making it impossible to operate certain equipment such as hot water tanks .
From October 15, 2022 to April 15, 2023, it will no longer be possible for some households to operate their cumulus from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. A “temporary suspension”, indicates Enedis, which will aim to reduce electricity consumption and prevent saturation leading to breakdowns. The electricity transmission network manager (RTE) is behind the decree, and wanted to target a very specific clientele, whose possibilities for finding solutions are the most numerous. Under no circumstances will the measure affect Linky meters and will not cut household electricity.
This therefore theoretically concerns only one appliance in homes: the cumulus. And contrary to the parallel with the Linky meter that might be made, the equipment has nothing to do with the cut.
The consumption suspensions scheduled between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. come at the time when the peaks in electricity consumption are the highest during the day. Enedis wants to protect itself by indicating that they will not act directly on the infrastructures but will simply suspend the automatic switching signal, on which this type of device reacts to start up.
Which customers are affected?
The cumulus works for many at night. A good way to pay less for your hot water. Choosing to disconnect this device from certain customers from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. should therefore “go unnoticed”, comments UFC-Que-Choisir. But even if this offers great possibilities for households to find another time during the day to heat their water, you might as well find out now if you are concerned and not be surprised by this breakdown which is not one.
Affected customers are simply those who have chosen this tariff preference, namely the peak/off-peak formulas. For all those who have chosen this option, more attractive rates are available during off-peak hours in return for higher rates during peak hours (and a higher subscription price as well). This is enough to understand that power cuts via the Linky meter between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. should not cause any discomfort.
Why is electricity such a big issue this year?
According to the electricity network operator RTE, winter 2022-2023 has a risk of power outages much higher than average. Tensions on the electrical network had rarely been so high. This situation can be explained by three factors. The UFC-Que-Choisir association recalled these three points last September:
- The gas crisis in Europe facing the war in Ukraine
- The nuclear crisis in France following multiple reactor failures
- Drought (which reduced hydropower resources)
“When the electrical system is very strained, the risk of power cuts cannot be completely excluded, but it might be avoided by lowering national consumption by 1 to 5% in the majority of cases, and up to 15% in weather situations. the most extreme”, explained the RTE last month. The risks might increase from autumnwhich is why the public authorities seek by all means to prepare for it.
To guide everyone to adopt the right actions, the manager of the electricity transmission network has also developed a program called Ecowatt. After signing up, you’ll receive alerts to prepare for possible next outages and tips to reduce your consumption. Consumers, companies and communities are invited to register. Note that the program provides for no alerts to be given in the middle of the night or during the weekend, for everyone’s comfort.
