Electricity Prices in France 2026: Regulated Tariff, TURPE and Taxes Explained

What you need to know upfront

Three things shape your electricity bill in France in 2026. First, the energy itself — bought on wholesale markets and sold to you at the regulated tariff or a market offer. Second, the network fees (TURPE), which pay Enedis and RTE to carry electricity to your home. Third, taxes — the excise duty, the CTA pension contribution, and VAT.

None of these is new, but 2026 brought real changes: the TURPE increased by 2.7% in February, the excise tax returned closer to its pre-crisis level, and the next tariff revision is due in August 2026. This guide explains each element with figures from the Commission de Régulation de l'Énergie (CRE).

How electricity is priced in France

Every electricity bill — whether you're on the Tarif Bleu or a market offer from an alternative supplier — is built on the same three layers.

**The energy supply component** covers the actual cost of generating or procuring electricity, including capacity guarantees. For those on the regulated tariff (TRVE), the CRE calculates this based on production costs and market conditions. For market offers, suppliers set their own margin above or below this benchmark.

**The TURPE** (Tarif d'Utilisation des Réseaux Publics d'Électricité) is the network access charge. It's fixed by the CRE and identical regardless of which supplier you choose. It covers Enedis's distribution network (the cables reaching your home) and RTE's high-voltage transmission grid.

**Taxes and contributions** make up roughly 25–30% of a typical bill. The main ones are the excise duty on electricity consumption, the CTA (Contribution Tarifaire d'Acheminement) which funds electricity industry pensions, and VAT applied at two different rates.

Bill component	Approximate share
Energy supply	35–40%
TURPE (network)	30–35%
Taxes + contributions	25–30%

Source: CRE, 2026

The regulated tariff (Tarif Bleu / TRVE) — rates from February 2026

The Tarif Réglementé de Vente d'Électricité (TRVE), commonly called the Tarif Bleu, is set by the government on CRE's proposal. EDF and the local distribution companies (ELD) are the only suppliers authorised to offer it. Around 20 million households in France remain on this tariff.

Rates are revised twice a year — 1 February and 1 August. The figures below are the **all-inclusive (TTC) rates in force from 1 February 2026**, as published by the CRE.

Base option (flat rate, 24/7)

Subscribed power	Annual subscription (TTC)	kWh price (TTC)
3 kVA	€144.52/year	19.40 ct€/kWh
6 kVA	€188.24/year	19.40 ct€/kWh
9 kVA	€235.92/year	19.27 ct€/kWh

Peak/off-peak option (HP/HC)

Subscribed power	Annual subscription (TTC)	Peak hours	Off-peak hours
6 kVA	€188.24/year	20.65 ct€/kWh	15.79 ct€/kWh
9 kVA	€235.92/year	20.65 ct€/kWh	15.79 ct€/kWh

Source: CRE — tarifs réglementés de vente d'électricité, février 2026

The HP/HC option can reduce costs if you shift at least 30% of your usage to off-peak hours (typically overnight and at weekends, depending on your meter settings). If you can't shift consumption — say, because you work from home during the day — the Base option is often simpler and comparable in cost.

**Who qualifies?** The TRVE is available to any residential household in France, and to businesses with fewer than 10 employees and annual turnover below €2 million. You can return to the regulated tariff from a market offer at any time, free of charge — this is a right guaranteed by article L441-1 of the Code de l'énergie (DGCCRF).

TURPE — the network charge on every bill

The TURPE appears on every electricity bill, regardless of which supplier you use. It covers two things: RTE's high-voltage transmission network and Enedis's local distribution network that actually reaches your home.

TURPE 7 came into force in August 2025. Within it, the CRE set an upward revision of 2.7% effective 1 February 2026 — the standard mid-tariff-period update. For a household consuming 5,000 kWh per year on a 6 kVA subscription, that translates to roughly €15–25 more per year.

The reason for the increase: Enedis is in the middle of a major investment cycle to modernise the grid, accommodate distributed renewable energy (solar, wind), and roll out smart metering. These costs feed into the TURPE calculation.

One thing worth knowing: if you switch from EDF to an alternative supplier, your TURPE charge doesn't change. It's a regulated pass-through. What changes is the energy supply component and the supplier's margin. The Enedis technician and your meter stay exactly the same.

Taxes — the third layer

Excise duty on electricity (accise sur l'électricité)

Since 2022, France merged the old CSPE and local electricity taxes into a single excise duty. The rate was cut sharply during the energy crisis (down to €1/MWh in 2022), then raised in stages.

From **1 February 2026**, the household rate is **30.85 €/MWh**, according to the CRE's published tariff breakdown. A separate, lower rate of 26.58 €/MWh applies to certain business categories. The 20% VAT then applies on top of this excise.

To put that in context: for a household using 4,500 kWh/year, the excise duty alone adds around €139 before VAT.

CTA (Contribution Tarifaire d'Acheminement)

The CTA funds the pension scheme for workers in the electricity and gas industries (the IEG regime). Its amount is calculated as a percentage of the fixed TURPE portion — roughly 27% — and varies slightly by subscribed power level. VAT at 5.5% applies to the CTA.

VAT

Two rates apply:

**5.5%** on the subscription charge and on the CTA
**20%** on electricity consumption, the excise duty, and other variable charges

Market offers versus the regulated tariff

Alternative suppliers — Engie, TotalEnergies, Ekwateur, Ohm Énergie, Vattenfall and others — can sell electricity at prices they set themselves. Their offers typically come in two main forms.

**Indexed offers** follow movements in the regulated tariff, usually with a discount applied. If the TRVE rises in August, so does your indexed offer (though potentially by a smaller percentage). If it falls, you benefit too.

**Fixed-price offers** lock in a kWh price for 1–3 years, regardless of tariff revisions. These can protect against increases, but also mean you miss any fall in prices.

Neither type is inherently better. An indexed offer on a volatile upward market may turn out more expensive than a fixed offer signed at a low point — or vice versa. The Médiateur national de l'énergie's website (energie-info.fr) lists current market offers alongside the regulated tariff for reference.

One point worth being clear on: checkeverything.fr doesn't rank or recommend specific market offers. The right choice depends on your consumption profile, your appetite for price risk, and how long you're planning to stay at your current address.

What to watch for in August 2026

The next revision of the Tarif Bleu is due on **1 August 2026**. The CRE will publish its proposal several weeks beforehand, based on wholesale market prices, updated network costs, and tax parameters.

Since ARENH — the mechanism that gave alternative suppliers access to EDF's nuclear output at a capped price — ended on 31 December 2025, the dynamics of wholesale pricing have changed. EDF's nuclear electricity now feeds into market prices through a revenue contract (a "contrat pour différence" structure introduced under the 2023–2025 reform). Whether this pushes regulated tariffs up or down in August depends on market conditions at the time the CRE makes its assessment.

RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Électricité) publishes regular outlooks on French electricity production and demand. The CRE's quarterly monitoring reports are also publicly available and give a clear picture of wholesale market trends feeding into tariff calculations.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current regulated electricity tariff in France?

From 1 February 2026, the Base option on a 6 kVA subscription costs €188.24/year fixed plus 19.40 ct€/kWh TTC. The HP/HC option costs the same subscription, with peak hours at 20.65 ct€/kWh and off-peak at 15.79 ct€/kWh. These figures come from the CRE's published TRVE schedule and are revised in February and August each year.

Can I go back to the regulated tariff if I switched to a market offer?

Yes. Returning to the Tarif Bleu (TRVE) is free and can be done at any time. The right is guaranteed by article L441-1 of the Code de l'énergie. You simply notify EDF (or your local distribution company), and the switch takes effect at the end of your current contract notice period — usually a few weeks.

Why did my electricity bill increase in early 2026?

Two changes took effect on 1 February 2026: the TURPE network tariff rose 2.7%, and the excise duty on electricity adjusted to 30.85 €/MWh for households. If you're on the Tarif Bleu, the energy component of the tariff was also revised. The combined effect depends on your consumption level and subscribed power.

What is the TURPE and why is it on my bill regardless of supplier?

TURPE stands for Tarif d'Utilisation des Réseaux Publics d'Électricité. It's the regulated charge covering Enedis's distribution network and RTE's high-voltage grid. Because the physical network is the same regardless of which supplier you chose, the TURPE is identical across all suppliers. The CRE sets the rate — suppliers pass it through.

What happened to ARENH and does it affect prices?

ARENH (Accès Régulé à l'Électricité Nucléaire Historique) ended 31 December 2025. It had allowed alternative suppliers to buy a portion of EDF's nuclear output at a regulated €42/MWh price. Its end means alternative suppliers now source all electricity at market prices. EDF's nuclear production remains covered by a revenue contract mechanism that provides some price stability, but the direct subsidy to competitors via ARENH is gone.

Is there financial help available for electricity costs?

The Chèque Énergie is a state voucher for low-income households, distributed automatically based on tax income data. In 2026, amounts range from roughly €48 to €277 depending on household income and composition. Recipients can use it to pay any electricity or gas supplier. More information is available at chequeenergie.gouv.fr and through the Médiateur national de l'énergie.

Sources and references

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The information in this article is provided for guidance only and does not constitute personalised advice. Tariff figures are sourced from the CRE and are subject to revision. Always check official sources for the most current rates before making decisions about your energy contract.