The executive power made known, Thursday, the detail of the plan he had sketched at the end of August, announcing possible “turning merchants” from January 2023 which would concern 60 % of the population.
By Ivanne Trippenbach
The image of families lighting up in the candle, in France, emanates from reports from Ukraine, where millions of civilians are plunged into darkness and cold. One country is at war, the other lives in peace, but the symbol of the match returns to advisers of the worried power that the French have to use it this winter.
Matignon was wondering about the right time to prepare the general public for the scenario of targeted and temporary electricity cuts. Until, in mid-November, the manager of the RTE electrical network alerts on a “high” risk of tensions, in January 2023, due to the prolonged maintenance of nuclear reactors.
The government therefore made known the detail of the plan sketched at the end of August. As in the times of the pandemic, this Thursday 1 er saw Olivier Véran returning to crisis communication which accommodates the spirits in the worst, while ensuring that the worst can be avoided. “We are not announcing to the French that there will be cuts,” demine the government spokesperson, on BFM-TV.
But if necessary, 60 % of the population may undergo “turning wolfling” from at most two hours, during the week, during consumption peaks between 8 am and 13 hours, or between 6 pm and 20 hours. Everyone can register on the Ecowatt site, which indicates the country’s “electricity weather” thanks to the green, orange or red lights. The day before at 5 p.m., the people concerned will be alerted if their home is part of the relieved areas. A cut will affect up to 4 million inhabitants at a time, in various places in France, in a “leopard skin” effect.
a potential domino effect
Thursday, Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, asked the prefects to orchestrate their services so that everything is ready, everywhere. According to its nine -page circular, the sites essential to the continuity of the life of the nation – hospitals, fire station, gendarmeries and police stations, prisons, military bases … – will not be deprived of electricity. Each department in a confidential list. “Once these sites have been exempt, there will be no more gigawatts for everyone. This will make unhappy,” the prefect of a rural and cold department press. Especially since the same household could be touched several times by a load shedding.
The approximately 4,000 people at high vital risk will be identified to ensure their medical follow -up. Délisted schools will not open in the morning. Trains and metros can be deleted to avoid blocking in full way. A potential domino effect that would freeze economic activity here and there. “We are not in a disaster film,” wanted to reassure Olivier Véran, adding that the signal lights will stop working in places, and that “it is not impossible that we cannot remove of cash “.
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