The French Parliament has definitively approved a bill on the national energy group EDF, combining measures to prevent its dismantlement and extending regulated electricity tariffs to small businesses and municipalities. The bill extends regulated electricity tariffs to small businesses, artisans, and farmers until 1 February 2025, benefiting approximately 10,000 municipalities and one million additional small enterprises. The bill also strengthens the state's ownership of 100% of EDF's capital and outlines EDF's objectives, including decarbonization of electricity production and price control. A ten-year contract with the state will determine EDF's financial trajectory and operational objectives, subject to periodic review.
In France, the electricity market has been completely open to all consumers since 2007. In December 2022, 16.3 million clients were buying electricity at market price (41% market share), including 12.6 million households. Electricity sold at market price accounted for 74% of total consumption (30% in 2014); 43% of the total consumption is supplied by alternative suppliers.