The French electricity transmission system operator, RTE, foresees that €33bn of investments are needed over the next 15 years to upgrade and “digitise” the French grid, create interconnections with neighbouring countries and develop renewable energies.
The €33bn of investments, i.e. €2bn/year, represent a significant increase compare to the current level of investment that stands around €1.3bn/year. RTE foresees that 39% of the planned investments will be dedicated to adaptating the existing network, 24% to renew the oldest structures, 21% to the connection of marine energies, 9% to digital technology and 6% to cross border interconnections (French part). This sum will be financed in part by electricity bills paid by end-users via the "tariff for the use of public electricity networks" (Turpe), which is to be debated by the CRE in early 2020. Since 2018, RTE is financing the connection of future offshore wind farms, estimated at €500-600m/year, which explain an important part of the increase in investment-related expenses.
Developed in coherence with the French government 10-year multiannual energy plan (Programmation pluriannuelle de l’énergie, PPE), RTE’s program will be submitted to the government, the Energy Regulation Commission (CRE) and the Environmental Authority.