One Device, a Big Impact
Every household uses its electric water heater every day, often without a second thought—be it in the kitchen or the bathroom. Yet, according to France’s energy agency (ADEME), this unassuming appliance can account for up to 20% of your annual electricity bill. On average, it sits at around 11%. The larger the storage tank, the higher that number climbs. It’s a sobering thought, but here’s the upside: a few simple daily habits can seriously lighten the load on your wallet.
Small Habits, Big Savings
As ADEME points out:
“With simple gestures and good everyday habits, you can save a third of the electricity used by an electric water heater.”
For example, turning off your water heater when you’re away for several days is a classic tip. But here’s the twist: you can apply that very same tactic every single day, especially at lunchtime.
Real-World Results: The Lunchtime Experiment
Back in 2022, the French electricity company Enedis put this theory to the test on a national scale. Thierry Sudret, who was then Head of Operations and Systems, explained that just one day of this experiment led to a savings of 2.4 gigawatts of electricity—the equivalent of what 2.4 million French people would use! As Sudret put it:
“It was a great success.”
To put that into context, with French electricity rates at €0.1952 per kilowatt-hour in September 2025 (about $0.21 per kWh, for our American friends), this amounts to a whopping €468,480 saved in just two hours. Imagine doing this every day: the impact on your annual bill could be huge, stretching from mere pennies to hundreds of euros (or dollars) saved.
Will Lunch Without a Water Heater Leave You Cold?
It’s only natural to have concerns about your precious hot water supply during such experiments. But Sudret reassured participants:
“The only difference is that the water heaters won’t reheat between noon and 2 PM. People will still have hot water, but the tank won’t reheat during this period. However, it will reheat overnight.”
If, by chance, you’ve used up all your hot water (say, after a morning of shower marathons), there’s a safety net: the “forced operation” function, which lets you turn the heater back on immediately, for that instant steamy fix.
And as Sudret reminded everyone:
“This measure, which is practically painless for households, is highly effective—we’re talking 2.4 gigawatts saved, which is considerable, and we received no complaints.”
That’s quite the argument, especially with winter looming and energy costs set to rise. A simple lunchtime habit just might be the coolest way to keep your hot water—and your savings—flowing all year long.
