Rumors about a possible energy crisis in France have now come to fruition. Between economic recovery following the various confinements and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the causes are multiple and demonstrate the country’s inefficiency in properly restarting its own electricity fleet in addition to a certain dependence on foreign producers. But never mind: the government assures that it will be enough to be thrifty for everything to go off without a hitch until the summer. To find out more, an interview was conducted by The Midi Dispatch (Baylet family) with Xavier Piechaczyk, president of the Management Board of the Electricity Transmission Network (TEN).
We learn to begin with that France consumes less energy overall than usual, which is a very good sign before facing the cold season. The decrease would be around 5 to 6% “over the past week“. But despite everything, it will probably not be enough, so it is advisable to use the Ecowatt app to prevent cuts. Available on the Google Play Store and on the App Store, this platform is also available in a web version. Sold as a real “electricity weather“, there is a map that lists the regions of France with three colors:
- Grey = no risk of cutting
- green = risk of cuts and incentive to reduce your consumption
- red = increased risk of shortages if user behavior does not change
How to escape it?
As Xavier Piechaczyk points out, it is advisable “to individuals from monitor heating, lighting and cooking in the case of red EcoWatt signals“. A few simple eco-gestures are therefore recommended. First, you may prefer blankets and a good pair of socks to turning on a heater. With this, using smart bulbs that turn off when you leave the room is a second brand choice. Finally, remember to stop the hotplates when the water is simmering in the kitchen, before covering the pans with a lid to keep the heat in.
© TEN
Of course, to fight against global warming and limit expenses related to the potentially dangerous nuclear industry, these best practices do not have to confine themselves to periods of crisis only.
Customers could be harmed
According to another more complete question/answer session with our colleagues from France Infothe French could be warned cuts. To do this, you will need to subscribe to alerts via the Ecowatt app.
Unfortunately, for the moment, there is no indication that EDF will make the slightest gesture in favor of consumers or businesses that are victims of cuts. So don’t expect any refund. However, mobile phone operators have a habit of offering a commercial advantage in this type of situation.
