← FFCheckElectricity & gasFR
Electricity & gas · France
Checked 2026-09-30

⏱️ Fixed price or dynamic (hourly) electricity contract in France: which is right for me?

The short answer

A fixed price stays the same for an agreed period. A dynamic price follows the wholesale market hour by hour, so it can be cheaper when you shift your use, and more expensive at peak times.

📜 The rules in France

Fixed and dynamic contracts

Any supplier may offer a dynamic electricity price that follows spot market prices, if you have a smart meter (Linky). Suppliers with more than 200,000 sites must offer one on request (Code de l'énergie L332-7).

  • Before you sign, the supplier must explain the opportunities, costs and risks, obtain your consent, and give you an alert system for sharp price changes. It is not obliged to set a maximum price. (energie-info.fr)
  • CRE publishes the list of obliged suppliers every year. In June 2026 it extended the transitional rules for these offers until 30 June 2027 and plans to update them by October 2026. (cre.fr)
  • A bill transposing the EU electricity market reform would require suppliers to offer a fixed-price, fixed-term offer with a price commitment of at least one year. The Senate adopted it on 18 February 2026; it is not yet law. (senat.fr)
Official source: legifrance.gouv.fr · Checked 2026-09-30

🪜 Step by step

  1. Look at how you use energyA dynamic price suits people who can move use to cheap hours, for example with an electric car, a heat pump or a timer. It needs a smart meter.
  2. Check what is on offerSee below what the rules in France say about fixed-price and dynamic contracts and who has to offer them.
  3. Read the risks and the termsBefore you sign, the supplier must explain the costs and risks of a dynamic contract. Check the notice period and any exit fee.
  4. Review after a few monthsCompare your bills with what a fixed price would have cost. You can switch again under your contract terms.

📇 Who to contact

Comparateur d'offres d'électricité et de gaz naturel (énergie-info) officialCompare electricity and gas offersBefore you switch, or when your price goes up🔗 comparateur-offres.energie-info.fr/comparateur-offres-electricite-gaz-naturel/criteria.action?profil=particulier
Commission de régulation de l'énergie (CRE)Supervises energy companies and explains your rightsFor information, and to report a company that breaks the rules🔗 www.cre.fr

❓ Questions

Is a dynamic contract cheaper?

Only if you use a lot of power when prices are low. At peak times it can cost much more than a fixed price.

Do I need a smart meter?

Yes. Hourly prices need a meter that records your use per hour or per quarter hour.

Can a fixed price still go up?

Normally not during the fixed period, but taxes and network charges can change. The rules for France are on this page.

📎 Sources

Checked: 2026-09-30

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Also useful

📈Price increase→🔄Switching supplier→📟Smart meter→🧾Wrong or high bill→💸Can’t pay the bill→

More help in France

All other problems: who handles whatWho do I contact?100+ things that go wrong — money, housing, work, safety, health, papers, government — and the one desk in France that actually handles each: phone, site, and what to say when they pick up.Before it goes wrongCan I?What is allowed, what is not, which permit you need — with the official source.Recognise it firstIs dit veilig?Check a phone number, website or message against 47,000 scam dossiers.