Overview
- EDF said late Sunday that reactors at Golfech, Bugey and Chooz were taken offline and eight other units were throttled because high river temperatures limited safe cooling and forced compliance with thermal‑discharge rules.
- The economy ministry issued a local exemption on July 11 that loosens temperature limits around the Bugey plant to help avoid power shortfalls and is valid until July 20.
- Meteo‑France placed dozens of departments under its top red heat alert with forecasts of 37–41°C, and officials reported 139 drowning deaths since June 19 linked to the sustained hot conditions.
- Operators reduce output or stop reactors when river water used for cooling becomes too warm because discharged cooling water must not exceed legal temperature caps that protect ecosystems.
- This is the second series of heat‑driven reactor curtailments since the record June heatwave, highlighting how recurring extreme heat tied to climate change is straining France’s power system and public services.