France is heating up and so are its electricity prices. A fresh spike in demand for cooling systems is pushing the country’s power rates to their highest in weeks, as Europe battles another bout of summer heat. According to Bloomberg, French electricity prices for Thursday surged by 41 per cent to €91.20 (about $106) per megawatt-hour. This marks the highest level since early July, based on market data from Epex Spot, a key European power exchange. The surge is being driven by an unseasonal jump in temperatures, especially in southern France and Spain, forcing households and businesses to ramp up air conditioning.<h2>Heat triggers cooling crunch</h2>France, like much of Europe, has already endured one heatwave this summer, in late June and early July. That weather event drove electricity prices higher across the continent, with demand for cooling outpacing seasonal norms.&nbsp;But this week’s heat is more localised, hitting France, Spain, and parts of the Nordic region, where daily temperatures have hovered well above the long-term average. As per Bloomberg, some Nordic areas have experienced several consecutive days of abnormally high temperatures.&nbsp;The French national weather service has warned that temperatures will climb even further on Friday, likely triggering another jump in power demand. According to energy analysts cited by Bloomberg, the heat is projected to nearly double the typical number of cooling degree days, a metric that measures demand for air conditioning based on how much temperatures exceed a comfort threshold compared to the 30-year average for this time of year.<h2>Why this matters?</h2>Rising power prices not only squeeze households but also add pressure on industries and grid operators during peak hours. For France, which relies heavily on nuclear power for its energy supply, maintaining steady output is crucial, especially during extreme weather, when even reactor operations can be affected.&nbsp;While renewables such as solar can help buffer daytime demand, prolonged heat waves typically stretch grid capacity, particularly in regions not historically designed for large-scale cooling loads.&nbsp;Europe’s power markets remain sensitive to weather fluctuations, and events like these raise questions about climate resilience, infrastructure planning, and the energy cost burden amid warming summers. &nbsp;

This heatwave, following prior extreme weather, stresses the grid and household budgets, raising concerns about energy resilience and infrastructure amid prolonged heating trends across Europe.

France is heating up and so are its electricity prices. A fresh spike in demand for cooling systems is pushing the country’s power rates to their highest in weeks, as Europe battles another bout of summer heat. According to Bloomberg, French electricity prices for Thursday surged by 41 per cent to €91.20 (about $106) per megawatt-hour. This marks the highest level since early July, based on market data from Epex Spot, a key European power exchange. The surge is being driven by an unseasonal jump in temperatures, especially in southern France and Spain, forcing households and businesses to ramp up air conditioning. Heat triggers cooling crunch France, like much of Europe, has already endured one heatwave this summer, in late June and early July. That weather event drove electricity prices higher across the continent, with demand for cooling outpacing seasonal norms. But this week’s heat is more localised, hitting France, Spain, and parts of the Nordic region, where daily temperatures have hovered well above the long-term average. As per Bloomberg, some Nordic areas have experienced several consecutive days of abnormally high temperatures. The French national weather service has warned that temperatures will climb even further on Friday, likely triggering another jump in power demand. According to energy analysts cited by Bloomberg, the heat is projected to nearly double the typical number of cooling degree days, a metric that measures demand for air conditioning based on how much temperatures exceed a comfort threshold compared to the 30-year average for this time of year. Why this matters? Rising power prices not only squeeze households but also add pressure on industries and grid operators during peak hours. For France, which relies heavily on nuclear power for its energy supply, maintaining steady output is crucial, especially during extreme weather, when even reactor operations can be affected. While renewables such as solar can help buffer daytime demand, prolonged heat waves typically stretch grid capacity, particularly in regions not historically designed for large-scale cooling loads. Europe’s power markets remain sensitive to weather fluctuations, and events like these raise questions about climate resilience, infrastructure planning, and the energy cost burden amid warming summers.

France's electricity prices surged 41% to €91.20 per megawatt-hour due to increased cooling demand from unseasonably high temperatures, particularly in southern France and Spain.

French power prices spike 41% as heatwave drives cooling demand

France braved its fourth heatwave this summer as its worst drought swept the European country, leaving parched villages without drinking water.

On Sunday, temperatures touched 37 degrees Celsius in the southwest regions on Sunday before the baking hot air spreads north early in the week.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has formed a crisis team to tackle the drought situation even as scores of villages are forced to rely on water trucks.

This acute water situation has forced state-run nuclear operator EDF to cut water supplies to nuclear power.

Last week, EDF cut its power output at a plant in southwestern France due to high river temperatures on the Garonne. It has also issued warnings for reactors along the Rhone river, reports Reuters news agency.

National weather agency Meteo France has warned that the drought was expected to worsen until at least the middle of the month. It is said that France is facing its worst drought since records began in 1958. On average, less than 1cm of rain fell across France in July.

The heatwave has also taken a massive toll on essential food crops like corn, whose harvest is expected to be 18.5 per cent lower this year compared with 2021, the agriculture ministry has said.

This is likely to accentuate the food crisis in France, which is already contending with higher food prices due to lower-than-normal grain exports from Russia and Ukraine.

Milk will also see a massive shortage in the months ahead as the National Federation of Farmers' Union has said that drought has caused a deficiency of fodder.

Meanwhile, France has imposed water restrictions on almost all of the mainland to conserve water.

(With inputs from agencies)

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France braved its fourth heatwave this summer as its worst drought swept the European country, leaving parched villages without drinking water. On Sunday, temperatures touched 37 degrees Celsius in the southwest regions on Sunday before the baking hot air spreads north early in the week.

France braved its fourth heatwave this summer as its worst drought swept the European country, leaving parched villages without drinking water. On Sunday, temperatures touched 37 degrees Celsius in the southwest regions on Sunday before the baking hot air spreads north early in the week. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has formed a crisis team to tackle the drought situation even as scores of villages are forced to rely on water trucks. This acute water situation has forced state-run nuclear operator EDF to cut water supplies to nuclear power. Last week, EDF cut its power output at a plant in southwestern France due to high river temperatures on the Garonne. It has also issued warnings for reactors along the Rhone river, reports Reuters news agency. National weather agency Meteo France has warned that the drought was expected to worsen until at least the middle of the month. It is said that France is facing its worst drought since records began in 1958. On average, less than 1cm of rain fell across France in July. The heatwave has also taken a massive toll on essential food crops like corn, whose harvest is expected to be 18.5 per cent lower this year compared with 2021, the agriculture ministry has said. This is likely to accentuate the food crisis in France, which is already contending with higher food prices due to lower-than-normal grain exports from Russia and Ukraine. Milk will also see a massive shortage in the months ahead as the National Federation of Farmers' Union has said that drought has caused a deficiency of fodder. Meanwhile, France has imposed water restrictions on almost all of the mainland to conserve water. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

France braves fourth heatwave this summer, drought leaves scores of villages parched

The heatwave France has prepared for all weekend has arrived, with Meteo France issuing its first high-temperature weather warning for five departments days ahead of the "canicule's" peak.

Heatwave arrives with a blast across France

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French power prices spike 41% as heatwave drives cooling demand

France braves fourth heatwave this summer, drought leaves scores of villages parched

Heatwave arrives with a blast across France