“We gave France's energy destiny to ignorant people!”

ARENH, a system under pressure

The Accès Régulé à l’Électricité Nucléaire Historique (ARENH) system, established by the loi NOME in 2010, allows alternative suppliers to buy part of EDF's nuclear electricity at a regulated price. The goal was to foster competition in the electricity market.

Nicolas Sarkozy signed this law under duress, facing the threat of a 20 billion euro fine from the Commission Européenne for unfair competition. France then benefited from very competitive electricity prices compared to Allemagne.

“It was giving to competition the rent of our historic nuclear power, which was paid for by taxpayers and which should have been distributed to civilian taxpayers and to all industries.”

An artificial market was thus created, with around a hundred alternative suppliers issuing bills without producing electricity. By accepting this blackmail, France favored Allemagne to the detriment of its own interests.

The effects of ARENH on the market

The price set by ARENH is €42/MWh for a maximum volume of 100 TWh per year. The beneficiaries are alternative suppliers and large industrial consumers. This system favored the emergence of new suppliers, thus offering more choice to consumers.

ARENH also contributed to limiting certain price increases during energy crises and is integrated into the calculation of the tarif réglementé de vente (TRV). However, when demand exceeds the 100 TWh ceiling, suppliers must buy the surplus on the wholesale market, which can lead to an increase in bills.

The end of ARENH and its consequences

ARENH will end on December 31, 2025, under European pressure, the financial needs of EDF, and market developments. Its disappearance in 2026 could lead to increased price volatility and tariff differentiation.

ARENH will be replaced by the Versement Nucléaire Universel (VNU), aiming to maintain regulation while ensuring better remuneration for EDF. Upon your return from holidays, an increase in the Tarif Réglementé de Vente is to be expected, with the TVA on subscriptions rising from 5.5 to 20%. This new increase is to be attributed to the Commission européenne.