UFC-Que Choisir warns of a 19% electricity bill increase starting in 2026 with the new nuclear regulation

A reform that could lead to an explosion of costs for consumers

UFC-Que Choisir has published a study forecasting a significant increase in electricity bills starting in 2026, due to the electricity market reform announced in November 2023. This new nuclear regulation, which will come into effect on January 1, 2026, introduces a new pricing model based on the volatile wholesale market prices, instead of the actual production cost of electricity in France.

A sharp increase in supply costs

According to the consumer association, the reform could lead to a 44% increase in supply costs, rising from 81.37 euros to more than 117 euros per megawatt-hour. UFC-Que Choisir criticizes a reform that favors EDF and electricity producers, leaving consumers facing significant price hikes. As a result, households subscribed to the regulated tariff could see their bill increase by an average of 19%, or up to an additional 250 euros per year.

Limited redistribution of EDF profits

The reform includes a provision for partial redistribution of EDF’s profits to consumers if electricity market prices rise. However, UFC-Que Choisir believes this redistribution will be very limited and that most of the profits will go to the state rather than consumers. For instance, on a megawatt-hour of nuclear production sold at 120 euros, EDF would pay a tax of 28.5 euros, but only a fraction of the revenues would be returned to households, with the majority going into state coffers.

Urgent measures needed

In response to this situation, UFC-Que Choisir is calling for stronger taxation on EDF profits, with full redistribution to consumers in the form of direct bill reductions. The association is also calling for the creation of an independent commission to rethink the regulation of the electricity market and the establishment of a public electricity service, ensuring a fair price based on actual production costs, rather than subject to market fluctuations.

Experts are concerned that this reform, if not adjusted, could lead to a dramatic rise in prices for millions of French households relying on the regulated electricity tariff.