France Renouvelables, the national voice of renewable electricity in France, is calling for an urgent adaptation of the electricity pricing system to reflect the new dynamics of renewable energy production, especially during periods of high output from wind and solar.

As the country increasingly experiences very low or even negative electricity market prices during sunny or windy days, the association argues this should not be seen as a market failure, but rather a strategic opportunity for the French economy and consumers.

“Mass renewable energy production must benefit both the national economy and the purchasing power of French citizens,” France Renouvelables stated.

Proposal: Modernizing the off-peak pricing system

The current “peak/off-peak” tariff system, in place since the 1960s, is used by around 14.5 million residential and small business customers. France Renouvelables proposes going further by supporting seasonal time-based pricing offers, introducing so-called “energy solidarity hours” or “green price hours” aligned with periods of abundant renewable production.

These reforms would:

• Improve business competitiveness by offering access to very low-cost electricity, supporting industrial growth and reshoring.

• Relieve household energy bills by expanding deeply discounted rate periods for programmable uses such as heating water, running appliances, or cooling.

• Accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels, by making clean electricity more attractive—imagine free midday EV charging from April to October.

• Reinforce France’s energy sovereignty by relying on locally produced renewables instead of imported, often geopolitically sensitive, energy sources.

A call for national coordination

“At a time when purchasing power, energy sovereignty and competitiveness are at the heart of the French energy debate, France Renouvelables calls for an immediate and inclusive dialogue with public authorities and industry stakeholders to turn renewable overproduction into real benefits for households, businesses, and the entire country,” said Anne-Catherine de Tourtier, President of France Renouvelables.