What exactly is changing?
The ministerial order (arrêté) of 13 August 2025 amends the coefficient used in the DPE (the French energy performance certificate) to convert final energy into primary energy. In practical terms, for electricity the factor falls from 2.3 to 1.9.
This new coefficient will automatically apply to all DPEs and energy audits carried out from 1st January 2026.
For certificates already issued and still valid, owners will be able to download free of charge — from the website of ADEME, the French agency for ecological transition — a certificate confirming the change of label. It will recalculate the “energy rating” without the need for a new inspection.
Why this change?
Until now, the DPE heavily penalised homes heated by electricity, applying a “high” coefficient justified by efficiency losses, yet less and less representative of France’s energy mix.
This reform aims to correct that bias. It is part of a broader policy of energy renovation and ecological transition.
The result: according to estimates, around 850,000 homes rated F or G could be reclassified — without any works — simply as a result of this new calculation method.
What this means for you as an owner
If you own a home heated by electricity, this reform may improve its DPE rating… and therefore the value of your property, its rental prospects or its resale.
A certificate issued before 2026 remains valid, but you can obtain a free attestation to update the property’s energy label. Convenient, and at no extra cost.
Homes rated F or G are often regarded as “energy sieves” (passoires énergétiques), poorly insulated properties that are gradually being barred from the rental market. The new calculation may lift them out of this category — which changes everything in terms of letting, value and image.
A few important points
Since 2021, the DPE has been legally binding (opposable): it is no longer mere information, but a decisive benchmark for buyers, tenants, institutions and grant schemes.
In addition, since mid-2025, new rules have governed energy assessors to make DPEs more reliable: training, more frequent checks, certification…
In conclusion — why this turning point is a game changer for your “homes for life”
This new DPE is fairer: it is an opportunity to add value to your property.
Wondering whether your apartment’s label will change with the DPE reform?
We can check this with you — do not hesitate to contact us.