A national test has been announced for this Friday, December 9 to simulate power outages for load shedding operations that could occur during the winter on the French electricity network.
[Mis à jour le 08 décembre 2022 à 23h32] A nationwide test is planned for this Friday, December 9 by Enedis, the electricity supplier in France and the Electricity Transport Network (RTE), the company in charge of transporting it. This involves preparing for any power cuts that could occur in January, working from established scenarios of weather conditions and lack of electricity. The energy company and the manager of the electricity transmission network involve the prefectures in this unprecedented exercise.
A life-size simulation
Do not panic: this is only an experiment carried out by Enedis and RTE, in conjunction with the prefectures. Thus, no inhabitant will be affected by any power outage related to load shedding. During these simulations, the entities involved in the management of electricity in the country will put the electricity network to the test, only via computer simulations. The objective of the exercise: to check the procedures established if real load shedding were to take place in the weeks to come, but also the reactions of the technical teams and the decisions taken. Different overvoltages will thus be tested during the day, varying according to various meteorological scenarios. Indeed, the use of load shedding is especially feared in the event of particularly cool temperatures, when the French seek to heat themselves more at home or at work.
Enedis and RTE did not give details of the tests that will be carried out this Friday. Will some regions be more targeted than others? Will the consequences on certain priority establishments such as schools or hospitals be measured? Will the impact of load shedding on the telephone network and in particular the emergency call be assessed? While these subjects are of concern, this exercise should make it possible to provide answers and, potentially, to adapt the answers if such and such a scenario were to occur. One thing is certain: the energy players can, according to their words, prepare serenely for the whole month of December. “We cannot fear power cuts before the end of the year”, said Jean-Paul Roubin, executive director of RTE, on BFM TV.