French energy distributor can cut off million households of hot water via electricity meter

PARIS (AA) – The French electricity supplier Enedis is planning to remotely cut off hot water to households in the event of a power shortage, local media reported on Wednesday.

The supplier will be able to deactivate the load of the hot water tanks from noon to 2 p.m. to deal with the power shortages during times of peak demand, according to the Le Figaro daily.

The company will use Linky type electricity meters to manage the system. Nearly 4.3 million households will be affected by the new measure.

The households will receive a warning, but will not be able to influence the decision.

The possibility to control electricity consumption on a national level has not been allowed in France until recently. But a new decree of September now makes it possible.

Enedis will implement the new measure between Oct. 15 and April 15, 2023.

- French mayor slams state’s inaction

Meanwhile, the energy crisis and skyrocketing prices are sparking angry reactions from local politicians.

"I want to denounce a scandal, a theft, an organized money extortion, with the passivity of the state on top of it!" Zartoshte Bakhtiari, mayor of the municipality of Neuilly-sur-Marne, about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from Paris, said in a video posted on social networks.

Obliged to renew the gas and electricity supply contracts of his municipality, the mayor denounced the inaction of the state in the face of exorbitant rates that suppliers impose on municipalities.

"The prices are just totally outrageous and crazy! We would go from €15 per megawatt for gas to €240, a 16-fold increase in price. And for electricity, we would go from €65 per megawatt to €2,068, so the price would be multiplied by 32," the mayor said.

"It's totally unacceptable, but unfortunately the government lets it happen," he said.

"Your municipalities, all over France, are on their knees."