The date chosen by RTE, the operator of the French electricity network, to deliver its outlook on the French electricity network for the coming winter, already testifies to the exceptional situation in which we find ourselves today.

“Usually we speak in mid-November, recalls Xavier Piechaczyk, Chairman of the Board of RTE.

The situation demanded to do so on Wednesday, if only because the risk period is not reduced this time to this winter, but begins as early as October.

And the months of November and December are going to be as risky as January, which is unprecedented.

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A “controllable” risk of tension

The origin of the tensions is known.

First of all, there is the European gas crisis, which began last autumn and which escalated further with the outbreak of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 24th.

Added to this is a nuclear crisis in France with only, on 1 September, 24 of the 56 reactors in EDF's nuclear fleet in service, the others being shut down for scheduled maintenance operations or following corrosion problems which were not planned.

Xavier Piechaczyk adds to the French equation “the drought which reduced the production of hydraulic electricity”.

But also “the closure of many means of thermal electricity production over the past ten years while those who were to replace them have fallen behind”.

However, even if the risk of tension is "increased" this year, RTE insists on saying it is "controllable".

“In no case does France run a risk of + black-out +”, that is to say “the total loss of control of the electrical system”, assures Xavier Piechaczyk.

However, the risk of power cuts cannot be completely excluded, but it could be avoided on the condition of strong mobilization on energy savings.

"It could be avoided by lowering national consumption by 1 to 5% in the majority of cases and up to 15% in the most extreme weather situations", details RTE in its study.

For these periods of greatest tension, RTE relies in particular on its Ecowatt system, which alerts individuals, businesses and communities to the imminence of a voltage peak on the electricity network,

inviting them to adapt their consumption.

According to RTE, the vast majority of “risky situations” occur in the morning between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. and in the evening between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

» More information to come

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