Electricity market in France

The electricity market in France comprises the organizational forms of the electricity production and marketing sector, which has been undergoing a process of economic liberalization since the late 1990s.

Following on from a public monopoly supplying electricity at administered rates, the creation of the electricity market in France spans a quarter of a century, from the preparatory work of the European Commission in the 1980s to the law on the new organization of the electricity market (NOME law) in December 2010.

Key legislative changes have included the restructuring of the state-owned company Électricité de France (EDF). These changes ended EDF's monopoly on electricity generation and supply, introduced partial privatization by opening up its capital, and facilitated access to the transmission network for other market participants.

Additionally, new regulatory institutions were established, such as the Commission de Régulation de l'Energie (CRE) and the Médiateur National de l'Energie (National Energy Mediator), to oversee the sector and address consumer issues. The overall organization of electricity markets has also been increasingly aligned with European Union regulations.