The off-peak hours are gradually changing for some electricity contracts, with a new phase affecting another 9.3 million households from November 1, 2026, according to Énergie-info. To find out whether these new time slots will actually affect your bill, identify your applicable periods, measure how much electricity you use during them, then compare the annual costs of the Base and peak/off-peak plans using your own rates.

The mistake would be to assume that changing the schedule automatically saves money. What matters is not just when electricity becomes cheaper, but above all how much electricity you actually use during that period. Here is a method you can follow using your bills, rather than relying on a rough estimate.

How can you tell whether your off-peak hours will change?

The schedule is being changed gradually. Not every home switches on the same date, and two neighbors may have different time slots. According to Énergie-info, the precise periods depend in particular on the home's location and grid constraints.

To check your situation, start with these three sources:

  • Your electricity bill: look for details of your pricing plan and off-peak periods.
  • Your customer account: check your contract details and any notifications of changes.
  • Your contract: it may specify the time slots assigned to your home.

If you cannot find the new schedule, contact your supplier directly. They can confirm your effective changeover date and the periods that apply to you.

According to Énergie-info, when a change is planned, the supplier must notify you by post or electronically at least one month before it takes effect. You cannot choose your own time slots: Enedis sets them according to local grid needs and capacity.

How are off-peak hours distributed?

According to information published by Énergie-info on October 23, 2026, the plan still includes eight off-peak hours per day. For the winter period from November 1 to March 31, the stated allocation is six hours between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. and two hours during the day.

However, this general arrangement is not necessarily the schedule assigned to your home. Time slots can vary by season. For a financial decision, use the schedule confirmed by your supplier rather than one found randomly online.

How do you calculate the share of electricity used off-peak?

Before comparing rates, you need to know what proportion of your electricity actually qualifies for the lower price. This is the key figure in the calculation.

If your bill already separates peak and off-peak usage, record both amounts over a representative period. Ideally, use a full year to account for seasonal variations.

The formula is simple:

Off-peak share (%) = off-peak consumption ÷ total consumption × 100

Where: total consumption = peak consumption + off-peak consumption.

For example, if your meter readings show 1,200 kWh off-peak and 2,800 kWh at peak times, your total is 4,000 kWh. The off-peak share is therefore 1,200 ÷ 4,000 × 100, or 30%.

These are fictional figures intended to illustrate the calculation, not household electricity consumption statistics.

Énergie-info suggests that using at least one quarter of your electricity off-peak is a useful benchmark for assessing the plan's financial appeal. But that percentage cannot replace a calculation using your contractual rates: differences in energy prices and standing charges can change the outcome.

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What if you do not know your actual split?

First, check your pricing plan. According to Enedis, on an electronic meter, two readings accessible via the “Scroll” button indicate a plan with two consumption periods, while a single reading indicates the Base plan.

If you have separate peak and off-peak consumption figures, use them directly. Otherwise, ask your supplier what consumption data is available. Do not treat a rough estimate of your habits as a real measurement: it could make the calculation look precise while producing a misleading result.

How do you compare the annual cost of Base and peak/off-peak plans?

Once you know the split, factor in the rates. For a fair comparison, include both the price per kilowatt-hour and each plan's annual standing charge.

Gather the following information for the same offer and contracted power level:

  • Your total annual consumption in kWh.
  • Your annual peak and off-peak consumption.
  • The price per kWh on the Base plan.
  • The peak and off-peak prices per kWh.
  • The annual standing charges for the Base and peak/off-peak plans.

Use comparable rates on the same basis and account for any bill components that differ between the plans. For an initial comparison, use these formulas:

Annual Base cost = Base standing charge + total consumption × Base price per kWh.

Annual peak/off-peak cost = peak/off-peak standing charge + peak consumption × peak price + off-peak consumption × off-peak price.

Estimated savings = Base cost − peak/off-peak cost.

If the result is positive, the peak/off-peak plan is cheaper in this simulation. If negative, Base is more advantageous. This calculation assumes total consumption stays the same and the prices used are representative of the period being compared.

Three household profiles that explain different outcomes

Imagine three fictional households, each using 4,000 kWh per year. Their total consumption is identical, but their habits differ.

  • Household A: 800 kWh off-peak and 3,200 kWh at peak times. Its off-peak share is 20%.
  • Household B: 1,200 kWh off-peak and 2,800 kWh at peak times. Its off-peak share is 30%.
  • Household C: 1,800 kWh off-peak and 2,200 kWh at peak times. Its off-peak share is 45%.

These figures are only calculation examples. Household A is below the one-quarter benchmark mentioned by Énergie-info, while the other two exceed it. Yet it would be wrong to state a savings amount without knowing their rates.

The right approach is to enter each split into the two formulas above. You can then compare real-world scenarios without assuming that a household using more electricity off-peak necessarily saves a specific amount.

How do you measure the impact of the new hours on your bill?

There are two separate questions: is your current plan worthwhile compared with Base, and will moving the time slots improve or reduce that advantage?

To answer the second question, keep your total annual consumption and rates unchanged, and adjust only the split between peak and off-peak usage. This is a constant-consumption simulation.

Consider the fictional household using 4,000 kWh per year, including 1,200 kWh off-peak before the change. Suppose its new habits and tariff periods mean only 1,000 kWh now falls within off-peak hours. Total usage stays the same, but 200 kWh moves from the reduced rate to the full rate.

The impact on the consumption portion of the bill is calculated as follows: 200 × (peak price per kWh − off-peak price per kWh). Using your contract prices gives you an estimate of the extra cost. Conversely, if more kilowatt-hours move into off-peak periods, the reasoning works in reverse.

This simulation is especially useful because it isolates the schedule change. It avoids confusing a shift in when electricity is used with an overall increase in electricity consumption.

Which activities can you shift without using more electricity?

The goal is not to run more appliances just because electricity is cheaper. It is to move consumption you already planned into a cheaper time slot wherever possible.

For each appliance, ask three questions: can its operation be rescheduled, will the amount of energy required remain similar, and is the change compatible with your daily routine?

You could examine programmable appliance cycles, charging that already needs to happen, or hot-water production if your system allows you to control it. These are practical possibilities to assess at home, not guarantees of identical savings for every household.

Be careful with heating: running it at another time may change your home's heating needs. Similarly, temporarily switching off equipment does not necessarily mean all its consumption can be shifted without consequences. Demand response, which can involve a hot-water tank or electric heating, is a separate measure from simply changing operating times.

The most useful test is to compare two similar periods before and after changing your habits, looking at both total consumption and the off-peak share. A higher off-peak percentage is not enough if overall consumption rises sharply.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell whether my off-peak hours are changing, and when?

Check your bill, contract and customer account, then ask your supplier to confirm if necessary. According to Énergie-info, suppliers must announce any change to your periods at least one month before it takes effect. The general rollout schedule cannot tell you the specific date for your home.

How do I know whether my off-peak plan is cost-effective?

First calculate your annual off-peak consumption share, then compare the full annual costs of the Base and peak/off-peak plans using your rates. Énergie-info suggests a benchmark of at least one quarter of consumption off-peak, but only a calculation with your prices can estimate the actual financial difference.

Can I choose my new off-peak hours?

No. Enedis determines the time slots based on operational constraints and local grid capacity. Your supplier can tell you which periods apply to your home and when they take effect.

Which appliances can I reschedule without increasing my bill?

Programmable uses may be shifted when doing so does not significantly change the energy required. However, you should check how each appliance works and monitor total consumption, especially for heating and hot water. The real measure remains the annual cost calculated from actual consumption.

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