Energy: "We must make this sobriety part of the mores," says the president of RTE

Romain Rouillard 20:10 pm, March 29, 2023

November 2022. As temperatures began to decline in France, RTE did not hide its concern. The operator of the electricity transmission system in France warned of the "high" risk of tensions in January, traditionally the coldest of the year, due to the slower than expected restart of EDF nuclear reactors shut down. A few weeks later, the government sent the prefects a circular containing various instructions to follow in the event of load shedding. A solution that would have led to power cuts during consumption peaks.

Four months later, when it comes to taking stock of the summer season, it is time for relief on the side of RTE. "The France consumed much less than expected. Roughly speaking, the France saved 9%. We had never seen that," says Xavier Piechaczyk, chairman of the board of RTE in the program La France bouge this Wednesday. An observation that can be explained by the winter temperatures, relatively mild this year, the massive import of electricity but also by the energy sobriety adopted by the French, eager to reduce the bill. "There are French people who have made gestures simply citizens to be careful," says Xavier Piechaczyk. Responsible behavior that has allowed the country to avoid the worst, despite electricity production at its lowest in three decades.

"Now everyone is almost trained"

A collective effort, also observed by companies, and that should now be anchored in habits, believes the leader. "We must transform the gestures that have been made this winter into regular gestures and that we bring this sobriety into the mores." A largely achievable goal according to him, given the awareness that has taken place within homes and businesses. "I think it has changed the mindset of the office world that tries to automate, to pay attention to its consumption, which does not heat unnecessarily, which tries to turn off the lights at night," he develops at the microphone of Elisabeth Assayag.

>>

READ ALSO – The illuminated advertisements will have to be switched off in case of threat to the electricity supply

To perpetuate these good reflexes, Xavier Piechaczyk has a plan. "We will keep our EcoWatt application up to date so that we are always on alert and that we continue to make the French understand how it works. And that the day the situation becomes tense, we must be there. We have set up 300 partnerships with very large companies, with large local authorities. Now everyone is almost trained."