Stable Electricity Consumption in France Points to Delays in Decarbonization

France's energy transformation has stalled, despite the country having one of the most low-emission and cheapest electricity generation systems in Europe. According to the latest data from the transmission system operator RTE, electricity consumption in France in 2025 reached 451 terawatt-hours, representing a mere 0.4% increase compared to the previous year. More importantly, this consumption is still about 6% lower than the average for the 2014-2019 period, the pre-COVID-19 pandemic and pre-energy crisis era triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The most concerning conclusion from the report, however, is the stagnation of a key transformation indicator – the country's electrification rate. Olivier Houvenagel from RTE pointed out that the share of electricity in final energy consumption, which is crucial for replacing fossil fuels, has not increased. „„Surtout, on constate que la part de l'électricité dans la consommation d'énergie finale, donc le taux d'électrification du pays, n'a pas non plus augmenté.”” — representative of the French transmission system operator RTE, commenting on energy consumption data This means that sectors such as transport, building heating, and part of industry still decisively rely on oil, natural gas, and coal, which together account for as much as 56% of France's energy mix. France has been investing in nuclear energy for decades, launching its massive nuclear power plant construction program after the oil crisis in the 1970s. This has granted it energy independence, low electricity prices for industry and households, and one of the lowest carbon footprints in electricity production in Europe. This historical advantage, according to analysts, should now be a driving force for accelerated decarbonization of the entire economy. Meanwhile, as the data shows, it remains largely untapped. Stable electricity consumption is interpreted not as a success of energy efficiency, but as a sign of stagnation in key modernization processes. This problem is particularly visible in the transport sector, where despite growing electric vehicle sales, their share in the overall vehicle fleet and the transition to electromobility in heavy-duty and public transport are progressing too slowly to significantly reduce oil consumption. Similarly, in the building sector, the replacement of outdated gas and oil boilers with heat pumps powered by clean electricity is not reaching the scale necessary to meet climate targets.56% — of France's final energy consumption comes from fossil fuels This dependence on coal, oil, and gas keeps the country trapped in carbon dioxide emissions and vulnerable to price fluctuations on global commodity markets. Without a radical change in the pace of electrification in these sectors, France may fail to meet its commitments under the EU Green Deal and its national energy strategy, which aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The current stagnation in electricity consumption thus reflects not only technological and investment challenges, but also potential shortcomings in incentive policies, regulations, and charging and distribution infrastructure, which are essential for a true energy revolution.