November 2025 Social and Economic Policy Shifts Highlight Energy and Housing Challenges in France
France enacts critical November 2025 reforms to off-peak energy hours, delays energy vouchers, freezes pensions, and extends winter eviction protections amid rising household energy struggles.
- • 36% of French households struggle to pay energy bills, up from 28% in 2024.
- • New off-peak electricity hours start November 1, affecting 11 million homes.
- • Energy vouchers delayed to November with revised eligibility criteria to aid low-income families.
- • Winter truce begins, banning evictions from Nov 1, 2025, to Mar 31, 2026.
- • Agirc-Arrco complementary pensions frozen for 2025, point value held at €1.4386.
Key details
As of November 1, 2025, France is implementing several key social and economic policy changes that deeply affect millions of households struggling with rising energy costs and housing security during winter. A significant reform involves the adjustment of electricity off-peak hours, impacting over 11 million homes. The number of off-peak hours remains at eight, but the timing shifts to include a five-hour consecutive night slot between 11 PM and 7 AM and a new three-hour daytime slot between 11 AM and 5 PM, based on seasonal factors. This change aims to better align energy consumption with availability and pricing, according to the Commission de Régulation de l’Énergie (CRE).
Financial pressures on households are escalating as 36% report difficulties in paying gas or electricity bills, a steep rise from 28% last year and 18% in 2020. An overwhelming 74% of French households are now limiting their heating due to cost concerns, nearly matching the record 79% seen in 2023. The late distribution of the 2025 energy voucher, delayed to November due to budget law approval lags, has worsened the situation for 61% of eligible households, totaling about 3.8 million. The voucher’s allocation method has also been updated to consider electricity delivery metrics and income, targeting assistance to the most vulnerable.
In tandem with energy policy changes, the winter truce period began on November 1, protecting tenants from eviction until March 31, 2026, with exceptions for specific circumstances. This measure provides vital shelter security against the backdrop of rising economic hardship. Meanwhile, the complementary pension system Agirc-Arrco announced a freeze on pension increases for 2025, maintaining the point value at €1.4386 due to stakeholder disagreements.
Olivier Challan Belval, the national energy mediator, emphasized the urgency of banning electricity cutoffs for unpaid bills, asserting, “Electricity is a necessity, especially before the winter break.” This call reflects concerns that 35% of households receiving the energy voucher may still face disconnections without stronger protections.
Overall, the November measures reveal efforts to mitigate worsening energy poverty and housing insecurity amid economic challenges, but they also highlight ongoing vulnerabilities that require sustained attention.