Last updated: May 28, 2026

Energy in France: independent 2026 guide to understand and choose

In 2026, the regulated electricity tariff (EDF's Tarif Bleu) is €0.1740/kWh in Base option (3-6 kVA, CRE figures from 1 February). Regulated gas tariffs no longer exist since 2023. CheckEverything.fr explains the market, your rights and the available support — without selling anything.

Understand regulated tariffsLower my bill
i

Key takeaways

  • Regulated electricity tariff (Base, 3-6 kVA): €0.1740/kWh from 1 February 2026 (source: CRE).
  • Regulated gas tariffs removed on 30 June 2023: everyone is on market offers. The CRE publishes a monthly reference price.
  • Supplier switching is free, no interruption, no on-site visit. Meter and grid (Enedis/GRDF) stay the same.
  • 2026 energy voucher: automatic delivery, €48 to €277 depending on income and household size.
  • French electricity mix: 95.2% low-carbon in 2025 (RTE), an all-time high.
  • Disputes: free recourse via the Médiateur national de l'énergie and the DGCCRF via SignalConso.
30+
Providers
active on the French electricity and gas market
4,770 kWh
Average use
annual electricity consumption per French household (ADEME)
95.2%
Low-carbon
share of decarbonised electricity production in 2025 (RTE)
38M+
Linky meters
installed in France, around 97% of the grid (Enedis)

The 6 energy guides on CheckEverything.fr

Pick the topic you care about. Each guide is kept current with official 2026 figures.

Electricity Providers

Understand the French market: EDF, TotalEnergies, Engie, Octopus and alternatives. Contract types, criteria, consumer rights.

Read the guide

Gas Providers

Since regulated gas tariffs ended on 30 June 2023, only market offers remain. How the market works and who offers what.

Read the guide

Regulated Rates

EDF's Tarif Bleu explained: how the CRE sets it, when it changes, who can still subscribe in 2026.

Read the guide

Green Electricity

Guarantees of Origin, ADEME's VertVolt label: the real difference between green offers in France.

Read the guide

Energy Savings

Concrete habits, MaPrimeRénov', CEE certificates, Éco-PTZ loan: lowering your bill without falling for false promises.

Read the guide

Moving & Energy

Cancel, subscribe, read the meter: the official service-public.fr checklist so nothing slips through.

Read the guide

What's changing in 2026 for energy

The main tariff and regulatory changes you should track this year, with their official source.

Energy 2026

Electricity TRV: small move on 1 February 2026

The CRE proposed a near-neutral adjustment of the regulated electricity sale tariffs on 1 February 2026: the fixed part (subscription, CTA) dipped slightly while the electricity excise duty rose to around €30.85/MWh. Net result: bills stayed almost flat for most households.

Source: CRE

Energy 2026

Definitive end of regulated gas tariffs

Since 30 June 2023, regulated gas sale tariffs no longer exist. In 2026, the monthly gas reference price published by the CRE is the neutral benchmark to compare market offers against.

Source: CRE / service-public.fr

Energy 2026

Energy voucher 2026: automatic dispatch in spring

The energy voucher (chèque énergie) is sent automatically to eligible households (income-tested by RFR per consumption unit), with no application needed. Amount: €48 to €277 depending on household composition and taxable income.

Source: service-public.fr

Energy 2026

Linky: 99% deployed, opt-out fee in force

Over 38 million Linky smart meters are installed (Enedis, 2025-2026). Since 1 August 2025, households that refuse the communicating meter or do not transmit their self-reading must pay an annual fee of around €38.88.

Source: Enedis / CRE

Understanding your energy bill in France

A French electricity or gas bill is made of three blocks. Knowing this structure lets you check what you actually pay for.

Subscription (fixed part)

Depends on subscribed power (3 to 36 kVA) and tariff option (Base or Peak/Off-Peak). Includes the CTA charge for grid delivery.

Consumption (variable part)

kWh used × your contract's kWh price. In February 2026, the regulated Base tariff is €0.1740/kWh (3-6 kVA) for EDF's Tarif Bleu (source: CRE).

Taxes and contributions

Electricity excise duty (around €30.85/MWh from 1 February 2026), CTA grid charge, and VAT (5.5% on subscription, 20% on the rest).

Who regulates what: CRE, ADEME, Ombudsman

The CRE (Commission de Régulation de l'Énergie) sets the regulated electricity tariff and publishes the monthly gas reference price. ADEME publishes the reference figures on household consumption, energy efficiency and the VertVolt green label. The Médiateur national de l'énergie (Energy Ombudsman) handles disputes free of charge. It also runs the official, ad-free comparison tool energie-info.fr.

Want to go deeper? Our dedicated guides explain how regulated tariffs work, how to cut your consumption concretely and what to do for energy when you move home.

Official French sources

Every figure and rule we cite on the site traces back to one of these French authorities. We rely on them so you can verify the information yourself.

Who does what on the market

  • CRE — energy regulator, sets the electricity TRV and publishes the gas reference price.
  • Enedis — operates the electricity distribution grid (96% of France).
  • GRDF — operates the gas distribution grid.
  • RTE — high-voltage electricity transmission network.
  • Energy Ombudsman — free dispute resolution.
  • DGCCRF — sanctions abusive commercial practices.

Key 2026 dates

  • 1 February — first semi-annual update of the regulated electricity tariff (CRE).
  • Spring — automatic dispatch of the energy voucher.
  • 1 August — second semi-annual electricity TRV update.
  • 1 November — start of the winter truce, disconnections forbidden.
  • 31 March — end of the winter truce.

Watch out for energy door-to-door selling

Energy is consistently among the most-reported sectors at the DGCCRF for aggressive sales. Reminders: you have 14 days to withdraw from any contract signed remotely or door-to-door; you can register free on Bloctel to block telephone canvassing; and you can report abusive practices on SignalConso (DGCCRF). If in doubt, the Energy Ombudsman can be contacted free of charge.

Frequently asked questions on energy in France

Sourced answers (CRE, ADEME, service-public.fr, RTE, Enedis).

What is the regulated electricity price per kWh in France in 2026?
As of 1 February 2026, the regulated electricity tariff (EDF's Tarif Bleu) is €0.1740/kWh in Base option for 3-6 kVA subscribed power, per the deliberation of the Commission de Régulation de l'Énergie (CRE). In Peak/Off-Peak option, the price is around €0.2065/kWh at peak hours and €0.1579/kWh off-peak. These rates are reviewed every six months, on 1 February and 1 August.
Are there still regulated gas tariffs in France in 2026?
No. Regulated gas sale tariffs were permanently abolished on 30 June 2023. All households are now on market offers. Each month, the CRE publishes a 'gas reference price' (prix repère du gaz, available on cre.fr) that serves as the neutral benchmark to compare commercial offers against.
How much does it cost to switch energy supplier in France?
Zero euros. Switching electricity or gas supplier is free, without interruption, without technical intervention and without imposed delay. The new supplier handles cancellation with the previous one. Your meter and grid (Enedis for electricity, GRDF for gas) stay the same. The whole process takes about 10 minutes online and is documented on service-public.fr.
Who is entitled to the energy voucher (chèque énergie) in 2026?
The energy voucher is awarded automatically (no application needed) to households whose reference taxable income per consumption unit is below roughly €11,000. The amount ranges from €48 to €277 depending on household composition. It can be used to pay electricity, gas, fuel oil or wood bills, or to fund energy renovation works. Reference: service-public.fr.
What happens if I refuse a Linky smart meter?
You can refuse Linky, but since 1 August 2025, households without the meter that do not transmit a self-reading to Enedis must pay an annual fee of around €38.88 (management charge approved by the CRE). Linky is officially deemed safe by ANSES (French health agency). Over 38 million Linky meters were installed in France by early 2026 (Enedis).
What can I do in case of a dispute with my energy supplier?
File a free complaint with the Médiateur national de l'énergie (energie-mediateur.fr) after sending a written complaint to the supplier's customer service (which has 2 months to reply). For abusive commercial practices (aggressive door-to-door selling, contract signed without clear consent), report to the DGCCRF via SignalConso. There is a 14-day cooling-off period for any contract signed remotely or outside business premises.
Why is French electricity among the least carbon-intensive in Europe?
Because the French electricity mix relies overwhelmingly on low-carbon sources. According to RTE's annual electricity report (2025), 95.2% of French electricity comes from decarbonised sources: nuclear (~68%), hydro (~13%), wind (~8%) and solar (~4%). CO2 emissions from the electricity sector were around 10.9 million tonnes in 2025, the lowest level since 1945.
How do I switch to the Peak / Off-Peak (HP/HC) tariff option?
Request it from your supplier. The Peak/Off-Peak option gives you 8 hours of cheaper electricity per day (usually overnight or midday, time slots defined by Enedis based on your municipality). It is worth it if you can shift at least 30-40% of consumption out of peak hours (electric water heater, scheduled laundry, EV charging). Otherwise, the Base option is often cheaper, since the HP/HC subscription costs around €20-30 more per year.
CE

Written by the CheckEverything.fr Editorial Team

Writing and fact-checking · Last updated: May 28, 2026

Our editorial team brings together writers specialized in energy, telecommunications, insurance and banking in France. Every article is verified against official French sources (CRE, ARCEP, ACPR, service-public.fr) before publication.

Disclaimer. The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute personalised advice. Tariffs, excise duties and rules cited here may change between updates. For any contractual or financial decision, verify the information directly with the supplier concerned or with official authorities (CRE, service-public.fr, Médiateur national de l'énergie). CheckEverything.fr is not a comparison site and has no commercial link with the suppliers mentioned.