EDF Boss Warns of Possible Energy Rationing This Winter

By Bloomberg

Jul 09, 2022

image is BloomburgMedia_RER994T0G1KW01_11-07-2022_06-05-29_637930944000000000.jpg

Electricity power lines above residential houses near the decomissioned Porcheville fuel power plant, operated by Electricite de France SA (EDF), in Porcheville, France, on Friday, July 8, 2022. The French government will nationalize its financially struggling nuclear giant Electricite de France SA to help it ride out Europe’s worst energy crisis in a generation and invest in new atomic plants. Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Electricite de France SA’s outgoing boss Jean-Bernard Levy warned this winter could bring energy rationing to Europe as fears grow that Russia will cut off gas supplies at a time when the French nuclear giant’s capacity is constrained by repairs.

“There may be some decisions to make as soon as the coming winter, I hope not,” Levy said Saturday during the Rencontres Economiques conference in Aix-en-Provence, France.

“I hope we won’t have to introduce some rationing,” Levy said, without specifying what type of energy might need to be curtailed. “But some countries and the European Commission are working” on such possibilities, according to the executive, who earlier this week announced his intention to step down as nationalization looms for EDF.

European Union nations will discuss improving their winter contingency plans at an emergency meeting on July 26 to ensure there are sufficient gas reserves to get through peak demand for heating and power. The industry has been warning that winter may be even tougher if Moscow halts flows, with the bloc having limited options to import gas from elsewhere.

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By Francois de Beaupuy