2026 Load shedding survey

This Decree supplements the regulatory section of the Energy Code by introducing provisions relating to natural gas load shedding, pursuant to Articles L. 434-1 to L. 434-4 of the Energy Code.

Load shedding constitutes the ultimate measure available to network operators to safeguard the supply of protected customers (hospitals, educational establishments, military facilities, etc.) in the event of a major supply crisis. It would only be implemented as a last resort, once all other existing market-based measures have been exhausted by the network operators.

• A load shedding order is a request to reduce or cease natural gas consumption within a two-hour timeframe.
• Any consumer receiving a load shedding order is legally required to comply.
• Several consumers may form a group, subject to the signing of an agreement and compliance with specific criteria, whereby one designated member is authorised to respond on behalf of the group. In such cases, the load shedding order will apply to the group as a whole rather than to each individual consumer.
• Natural gas network operators conduct an annual survey of consumers in order to collect the following three items of information:
  • The contact details and communication channels that the network operator may use to reach the consumer at any time;
  • The economic consequences that the consumer would incur in the event of a reduction or interruption of natural gas consumption;
  • The supply level below which such economic consequences are likely to occur.
• A response to this survey is mandatory within two months. Failure to respond within this period will be deemed to indicate that the consumer would not incur significant economic consequences in the event of a reduction or interruption of natural gas consumption.
• Based on the survey responses transmitted by the network operators, the Prefectures issue official orders listing the relevant consumers, which may be used to determine the priority order for load shedding.

If your site consumed more than 5 GWh in 2025, you are concerned by the load shedding survey that NaTran will shortly be launching.

The survey will be conducted as follows:

• On 23 February 2026, NaTran will launch the load shedding survey for all concerned customers, taking into account agreements received within the required timeframe. This process has been entrusted by NaTran to ED Institut. You will therefore receive an email natran-commercial@natrangroupe.com. containing a link to complete the online survey. You will have until 23 April 2026 at the latest to respond.
• If you wish to form a group in order to sign the “Agreement for the Purpose of Responding to the Load Shedding Questionnaire”, you must return the completed and signed agreement to us no later than 2 April 2026 at the following address: natran-commercial@natrangroupe.com.