In 2025, your washing machine schedule may matter more than your detergent choices.
From 1 November, France reshapes off-peak windows for millions. Night-time slots remain, a daytime slice appears, and evenings get pricier. That means your laundry routine deserves a rethink.
What changes on 1 November 2025
Off-peak isn’t just for the dead of night anymore. The 2025 reform moves the goalposts for around 11 million households, with a new mix of night and midday hours and a firm push away from the busy early evening.
- Morning 07:00–11:00 and early evening 17:00–23:00 become peak for many contracts.
- At least five off-peak hours remain overnight.
- Two off-peak hours land in the daytime window, typically somewhere between 11:00 and 17:00.
- About 3.5 million homes keep their previous pattern unchanged.
You’ll get a notice ahead of time. Then it’s up to you to confirm the exact hours on your bill, in your customer space, or straight on your Linky meter. Some connected appliances align automatically, but not all; a quick check stops nasty surprises.
From 1 November 2025, many contracts include at least five off-peak hours at night plus a daytime slot between 11:00 and 17:00. Check your bill or your Linky meter to see the precise windows where you live.
So when should you run the washing machine
Winter timing
Target the start of your night off-peak, often just after 23:00, or the quietest point around 02:00 if noise travels. Early evening is no longer a bargain for many users, so avoid 20:00–23:00 unless your contract clearly says otherwise.
Summer timing
If your plan adds a midday off-peak slice between 11:00 and 17:00, park a wash right in the middle of that window. Load the drum, pick the programme, and use the delayed start so the entire cycle stays inside off-peak.
That old habit of pressing start after dinner won’t suit many homes anymore. The 20:00–23:00 slot often costs more in 2025.
A practical routine helps. On laundry day, set a delayed start before bed so the cycle runs overnight in off-peak. Or queue a midday run if your tariff gives you a lunchtime discount. If you share walls, low-spin and eco programmes reduce noise while trimming energy use.
How much could you really save
Let’s anchor this to real figures seen in 2025. Two common examples show why timing matters:
- Off-peak €0.1635/kWh vs peak €0.2081/kWh (difference €0.0446/kWh).
- Off-peak €0.2068/kWh vs peak €0.27/kWh (difference €0.0632/kWh).
On laundry alone, the gain per cycle is modest, as modern machines run lean. The picture changes when you stack laundry with the dishwasher and a timed water heater.
| Scenario | Energy shifted | Difference €/kWh | Saving per day | Saving per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One 30–40 °C wash (≈1.0 kWh) | 1.0 kWh | €0.0446–€0.0632 | €0.04–€0.06 | €2–€3 (weekly wash) |
| Wash + dishwasher same day (≈2.0 kWh) | 2.0 kWh | €0.0446–€0.0632 | €0.09–€0.13 | €15–€24 (2 days/week) |
| Timed water heater + wash + dishwasher | 3.5 kWh/day | €0.0446–€0.0632 | €0.16–€0.22 | €57–€81 (daily) |
That last line is where the real money hides. A modest 3.5 kWh shifted each day lands in the region of €57–€81 a year, depending on your tariff spread. If your dishwasher and water heater join the party, your washing machine becomes the punctual trigger for a wider home routine.
Make the HPHC option pay
The off-peak plan (HPHC) only makes sense if you push enough of your usage into the cheaper windows. A solid benchmark is 30–35% of your total consumption during off-peak. Below that, the price advantage can melt away.
- Group shiftable loads: washing machine, dishwasher, timed water heater, and possibly the tumble dryer.
- Use the delayed start so the whole programme, not just the first half, lands in off-peak.
- Stay within your subscribed power to avoid tripping; stagger starts by 15–30 minutes.
- Check your Linky meter’s hourly breakdown to see your actual off-peak share.
HPHC shines when 30–35% of your consumption falls in off-peak. Stack the washing machine, dishwasher and water heating to cross that threshold.
Simple tweaks that cut the kWh per wash
- Lower the heat: a 30 °C wash can use roughly a third of the energy of a 90 °C boil wash.
- Fill the drum: two half-loads often beat one heavy load on wear, but waste energy; aim for an even, full drum.
- Pick eco: the eco programme runs longer but uses less electricity and water.
- Maintain the machine: clean the filter, check hoses, and run an occasional maintenance cycle to keep efficiency up.
- Mind the spin: higher spin reduces dryer time; if you tumble-dry, a tougher spin can save more downstream than it costs.
A quick way to check your own saving
Step 1: find your price spread
Grab your contract and subtract off-peak price from peak price. If you see €0.044–€0.063 per kWh, you’re in the typical 2025 band.
Step 2: estimate shiftable loads
- Washing machine: 0.8–1.2 kWh per cycle at 30–40 °C.
- Dishwasher eco: 1.0–1.5 kWh per cycle.
- Water heater on timer: 2–4 kWh per night for a family, depending on tank size and habits.
Step 3: run the maths
Multiply the kWh you can move by your price spread. Do it per day, then across a year. If you can shift 3.5 kWh daily at €0.063/kWh, you’re near €80 per year; at €0.045/kWh, you’re around €57.
Noise, safety and smart habits
Laundry at 02:00 can carry through floors. Shut doors, use vibration pads, and choose a lower spin after midnight. If your building rules limit night noise, use the midday slot instead.
Don’t overload the socket. Avoid running kettle, oven, dryer and heater at the same moment as a wash if you sit close to your subscribed power. A 15-minute stagger between appliances keeps you below the limit while staying in off-peak.
Smart plugs and simple timers help, but the Linky signal and your appliance clock remain the most reliable way to align with the actual off-peak window. Recheck your schedule after 1 November as some meters receive updated time bands.
Extra angles you can use right now
Cold-fill machines heat their own water. If you own solar panels, a short daytime wash during your off-peak slice can dovetail with self-consumption, trimming grid imports further. In homes with time-switch water heaters, confirm the contactor now aligns with the new off-peak hours; a quick adjustment can recover several euros a month.
If you also run a heat-pump dryer, pair it with a high-spin wash in off-peak. The better spin cuts dryer time, and the dryer itself typically uses less per kilogram than old resistive models. Combined timing and efficient kit can raise your off-peak share above 35%, keeping the HPHC option worthwhile even with changing schedules.
