Electricity market

The European electricity supply market has been wholly open to competition since July 1, 2007. This has allowed companies and individuals the free choice of electricity supplier. In France, the Commission de Régulation de l’Énergie (CRE) is one of the official bodies that ensures adherence to market regulations.

The opening of the electricity market
Regulatory authorities and market regulation guidelines
Network Tariff

The legal separation and independence of network managers, and a stronger role for regulatory authorities were just some of the European directives that guided the opening of France’s electricity supply market to competition. Transposed into French law, these directives have enabled the market to open in stages.

Opening the market to competition required the separation of businesses within the electricity market. Production and supply are now open to competition, while transmission and distribution remain regulated. Public authorities, France’s Competition Authority and France’s energy regulatory authority, the Commission de Régulation de l’Énergie (CRE) supervise the application of the new market regulations.

Within the context of opening markets to competition, electricity transmission and public connection to the distribution network are public service duties. The tariff paid by network users is therefore regulated by public authorities. The TURPE (Tarif d'Utilisation des Réseaux Publics d'Électricité) today ensures 90% of Enedis's revenue. It has recently been updated (TURPE 4), and allows Enedisto finance its business and to ensure that its network maintenance and modernisation duties are fulfilled.