2023-11-27 17:20:02
The government has made energy efficiency one of its top priorities. The Minister of Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, which welcomed the efforts of the French while neglecting the reality of their daily lives, has just announced an experiment with 200,000 households. The latter, voluntarily choosing to participate, will see their access to electricity reduced during the winter of 2023-2024, in exchange for financial compensation.
The government will pay French people who cut their electricity this winter
The government is launching an experimental initiative involving 200,000 French households equipped with Linky meters. These volunteers will have the electrical power in their home temporarily limited to 3 kVA for two hours, Monday to Friday inclusive. This limitation will only allow the use of a few essential devices such as light bulbs, a radiator or a fridge.
For this effort, these households will receive compensation of 10 euros, according to RMC, an amount that seems good paltry faced with the 25% increase in the price of electricity for 2023 alone. This amount will be paid by their electricity supplier within three months after the experiment, which should take place during peak energy hours, i.e. between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. or between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. With an almost mocking tone, one can wonder if this symbolic sum will sufficiently encourage participation or if it simply represents a paltry attempt in the face of a tense energy situation.
A simple experiment?
This experiment raises various questions and controversies. First of all, the principle of voluntary service, which actually seems somewhat forced. Linky subscribers who do not wish to participate should be careful to express their refusal to Enedis directly. The experiment, which must be implemented before March 31, 2024, therefore raises questions about its communication and the way in which the customers concerned will be informed. The Ministry of Energy Transition considers this device necessary to avoid a collapse of the electricity network in extreme cases. However, the electricity distributor RTE estimates that the risks of cuts for the winter of 2023-2024 are much lower than those in previous years.
Finally, the geographical area of the experiment has not yet been determined, and the project must still obtain approval from the Higher Energy Council. If this experiment is successful, reducing electrical power could well become the government’s preferred solution to relieve the network during periods of high demand.
1701110871
#Energy #paid #cut #electricity