The French government is updating its regulatory framework governing electricity disconnections for unpaid bills, reinforcing protections for consumers — particularly those in precarious financial situations. The new rules aim to strike a balance between the rights of energy suppliers to recover debts and the fundamental right of households to access electricity.
Under existing French law, energy suppliers are already required to follow a formal multi-step process before cutting power to a customer. This includes sending written notices and offering payment plans before any disconnection can take place. The updated rules are expected to tighten these procedural requirements and increase oversight by the energy regulator, the Commission de Régulation de l'Énergie (CRE).
France's so-called trêve hivernale — the winter moratorium running from November 1 to March 31 — already prohibits full disconnections for vulnerable consumers during the coldest months of the year. Outside this period, suppliers may reduce power supply to a minimum threshold rather than cutting it entirely for households identified as being in energy poverty.
Consumer advocacy groups have long called for year-round protections to be extended, arguing that financial hardship does not follow a seasonal calendar. With energy prices remaining elevated across Europe, the number of households struggling to pay their electricity bills has increased in recent years, putting pressure on the government to act.
The government has indicated that the new measures will clarify the obligations of suppliers and strengthen the role of social services in identifying and supporting at-risk households before disconnection procedures are initiated. Full details of the decree are expected to be published in the Journal Officiel in the coming weeks.
