PARIS (Reuters) – There is no risk to power supplies in France until at least mid-January, the head of the country’s CRE energy watchdog, Emmanuelle Wargon, said on Wednesday.
While it is necessary to remain vigilant in case of a drop in temperatures, the fact that French households and businesses have heeded calls to cut their energy consumption is a big help, Wargon told France Inter radio.
The government has set a target of cutting France’s energy consumption by 10% by 2024 from 2019 levels, as part of a wide ranging plan that includes turning off lights and lowering thermostats to avoid power and gas cuts over the winter amid the war in Ukraine.
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According to French grid operator RTE, electricity consumption dropped by 8.7% over the past four weeks compared to an average of the same period in 2014-2019.
“The call for restraint has really been heard,” Wargon said.
“We remain attentive and vigilant” in case temperatures drop, she said, adding that “until mid-January, we know we won’t have problems”.
Wargon also said that France’s nuclear fleet, currently hit by maintenance and repair works, is expected to reach a production capacity of 45 gigawatts (GW) in January.
She did not rule out that it could go as far as EDF’s projection of nearly 50 GW.
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan)
Electrical power pylons of high-tension electricity power lines are seen in Vertou near Nantes, France, December 16, 2022. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/Files
