“So far, we have enough production to meet consumption (…) a little lower than forecast,” said the manager of the Electricity Transmission Network (RTE) shortly after 9 a.m.
National consumption seemed to have reached a peak: shortly after 9.15 a.m., it was 71,346 MW, lower than the peak of 73,000 MW initially expected for 9 a.m., according to RTE's Eco2Mix site, which tracks consumption data in real time.
It then dropped a little, to 71,232 MW, shortly after 9:30 a.m.
“Consumption is a little below our forecasts, but it is still too early to know what the impact of eco-gestures is,” said RTE.
RTE had activated the national Ecowatt "orange" signal (which can go as far as red) because of the drop in temperatures, which was to increase electricity consumption, and called on households and businesses to reduce their consumption on Monday morning.
The Bugey nuclear power plant, in Saint-Vulbas, in Ain, on January 25, 2022 JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP / Archives
In a tweet broadcast on Sunday, the Carrefour distribution chain had, for example, announced that it would reduce its electricity consumption on Monday morning, through the voice of its general manager Rami Baitiéh.
RTE forecast national consumption of up to 73,000 MW around 9 a.m.
National production should be only 65,000 MW at the same time, but France should be able to import up to 11,000 MW to pass this milestone, according to RTE, which estimated that the situation could however be "tense".
The French electricity system is under tension this winter due to numerous shutdowns of nuclear reactors, for maintenance and verification of corrosion problems.
Currently, 27 nuclear reactors are unavailable out of 56.
© 2022 AFP