Subscribers Tempo: change of off-peak hours on November 1st?

As we recently discussed, from November 1, 2025, off-peak hours will change for nearly 12 million households. The goal: to better align with solar production, with part of the off-peak hours moved to early afternoon. Many wondered if Tempo subscribers would also be affected? Good news, their slots remain 10 PM-6 AM, every day. For others, Enedis is implementing new time slots, varying by area, mixing night and day. This overhaul aims to smooth demand, reduce evening peaks, and promote greener electricity. Here’s the update.

In brief:

• 12 million households will see a transformation of off-peak hours to better align with solar production.
• Subscribers to the Tempo EDF plan are excluded from this reform; their time slots remain fixed, from 10 PM to 6 AM, regardless of the days.
• The reform aims to adapt the electrical network by moving part of the off-peak hours to daytime, but Tempo operates based on winter peaks (red days).
• Switching from Tempo to a classic option means adopting Enedis’ new Peak/Off-Peak Hours schedule, with their gradual evolutions.
• A personalized simulation, like those offered by Selectra, is recommended to optimize consumption and electricity bill according to your usage.

Reform of off-peak hours from November 1, 2025: what changes and who is affected?

The reform of off-peak hours implemented from November 1, 2025, affects nearly 12 million households in France. In response to changing consumption patterns and the growing importance of solar production, it has become necessary to adjust the time slots of off-peak hours to better align with the realities of the network. The aim of this adjustment is twofold: to meet the ever-growing demand for energy, while optimizing the balance of the national electrical network.

Traditionally, off-peak hours were set in the evening and at night, to encourage consumption to be shifted away from peak demand periods. The new configuration introduces an innovative distribution between a part at night, as before, and a daytime slot – particularly in early afternoon, a time when solar production is at its peak. In practical terms, this helps suppliers and Enedis make greater use of this renewable, less carbon-intensive energy by encouraging energy-intensive uses at that moment.

This transformation is reflected in a reinforced dialogue between industry players, including the Energy Regulation Commission (CRE), EDF, and Enedis. They are now adjusting off-peak hours in their contracts according to geographic zones, to emphasize finer management of electricity flows. Thus, these new hours are gradually evolving over time, aiming to ensure stability, reliability, and cost control for French citizens.

This reform of off-peak hours should allow affected households to achieve savings on their bills, provided they adapt their consumption to the new hours. It is part of a European context of energy transition with an increasingly intelligent network.

Tempo EDF subscriber: are you affected by the change in off-peak hours?

Unlike the classic Peak/Off-Peak Hours option, subscribers to the Tempo EDF plan are completely exempt from this reform. Tempo is an older scheme launched by EDF to better balance electrical demands according to blue, white, and red days, linked to the network’s capacity. This tariff is notably very popular among owners of home automation systems, as they can easily optimize their electricity bill through it.

Specifically, the off-peak hours for Tempo will remain fixed and unchanged:

• Tempo off-peak hours: from 10 PM to 6 AM every day, without distinction of blue, white, or red days.
• Tempo peak hours: from 6 AM to 10 PM, every day.
• This stability means no action is required for subscribers, nor any modification of their consumption habits.

This maintenance is important as it ensures continuity and predictability of the pricing and time slots for faithful Tempo clients, who number in the hundreds of thousands. The electrical network is less stressed during red days thanks to the modulation of the kWh price: the tariff is very high during these times to encourage a reduction in demand.

For the Tempo subscriber, this exemption from the reform avoids a disruption in their consumption patterns. It also preserves the benefits associated with the Tempo subscription, especially for those capable of reducing their consumption during peak demand periods (red days).

Why the Tempo EDF offer escapes the reform of off-peak hours: operation, exceptions, and advantages

The primary objective of the Tempo offer is to manage peaks in electrical demand during winter, particularly during red days where a significantly higher kWh price discourages excessive consumption. The principle is therefore reversed compared to the classic off-peak hours reform, which seeks to enhance solar production and smooth demand throughout the day.

Introducing off-peak hours during the day into Tempo, which relies on differentiated tariff management according to days and not on fixed or modifiable slots by zone, would contradict its original purpose. Tempo aims to protect the network during winter peaks, not to encourage a massive shift towards the afternoon. Therefore:

• Tempo off-peak hours remain during the night, to facilitate less impactful night consumption on the network.
• Red days continue to impose a high cost for kWh during the day to limit demand during critical periods.
• The Tempo offer remains relevant for those able to significantly adapt their consumption, for example, by reducing the use of the water heater or electric heating during these critical periods.

In the current pricing competition, the Tempo offer may seem less flexible compared to the new distribution of classic off-peak hours. Particularly for consumers who can easily shift their electric usage to the afternoon (like charging an electric vehicle), the classic HP/HC option becomes interesting with its revised slots. However, this cheaper energy purchase remains subject to location as Enedis assigns local slots.

This important distinction highlights that Tempo is more a tool for managing winter peaks than an offer designed to benefit from variable renewable production throughout the day.

Switching from Tempo to Peak/Off-Peak Hours: what the reform implies and tips for your choice

If a Tempo subscriber is considering changing their contract to a classic HP/HC option, they should know that these new time slots applied by Enedis from November 2025 will automatically take effect. This means:

• The subscriber will lose the Tempo specificity, with its blue, white, and red days, and its differentiated rates.
• The new off-peak hours will be assigned according to geographic area, based on Enedis’ criteria.
• The time slots will evolve in accordance with the reform, with a division between a nighttime part and an afternoon slot.

This change can be beneficial for profiles ready to adapt their consumption. For instance, a user who charges an electric vehicle or uses household appliances during the solar period can benefit from a lower tariff during the day. However, this classic offer does not provide modulation options based on days like Tempo.

It is essential to carefully compare these offers before making any contract modifications, ideally through a personalized simulation. These tools take into account your consumption profile in kWh, your location, and your usages (water heater, electric mobility, etc.), to determine the best financial and practical option.

Only the Tempo offer from EDF preserves its traditional time slots and tariff specifics. Other dynamic offers or with adaptable pricing are also excluded from this reform, showing the diversity of market approaches to consumption and network challenges.

The reform overall encourages more flexibility and consideration of new energy sources, but for Tempo enthusiasts, no upheaval is on the horizon; everything remains stable, with no impact on bills or habits.

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