MaPrimeRénov' and CEE: what changes on September 1st with the electrification plan

The financing of energy renovation is changing course. Since September 1, 2026, MaPrimeRénov' has significantly reduced the number of works accessible in its process per action, while energy savings certificates (CEE) benefit from new bonuses for several heating and hot water production equipment.

These measures do not stem from a single regulatory text. They result from several decrees and orders published in August 2026, to which will be added, on January 1, 2027, a new modification of the calculation of the energy performance diagnosis (DPE).

For Hellio, an energy efficiency specialist, this package reflects the Government's commitment to making the electrification of energy uses a central pillar of energy policy. The consequences are immediate for households, construction companies, Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) delegates, and professionals responsible for supporting renovation projects.

The CEEs take over for several pieces of equipment

A decree dated August 17, 2026, creates new bonuses within the energy savings certificate scheme. These apply to projects initiated since September 1st and concern five standardized forms:

• BAR-TH-101 for individual solar water heaters;
• BAR-TH-148 for thermodynamic storage water heaters;
• BAR-TH-162 for systems combining photovoltaic and thermal water circulation sensors;
• BAR-TH-168 for solar thermal devices;
• BAR-TH-143 for combined solar systems.

For thermodynamic water heaters, the volume of Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) issued is multiplied by seven for low-income households and by four for other households. For other eligible equipment, the coefficients are set at five and four respectively.

These subsidies are conditional upon the absence, after the work is completed, of any equipment likely to use fossil fuels for the intended purpose. They apply in mainland France to projects initiated before January 1, 2027. Their temporary nature therefore requires professionals to carefully verify the project start date and the conditions for combining subsidies.

The text also strengthens controls: 20% of operations falling under the four new sheets must be checked on the work site and an additional 30% by contact.

MaPrimeRénov' reduces its journey by one step

Decree No. 2026-822 of August 25, 2026, refocuses the MaPrimeRénov' grant on a limited number of specific projects. The new rules apply to grant applications submitted since September 1, 2026.

In metropolitan France, several categories of work no longer have a fixed rate in this process:

• independent heating or domestic hot water equipment powered by wood or other biomass;
• thermodynamic water heaters;
• solar thermal equipment for heating or domestic hot water production;
• hybrid solar collectors;
• ventilation systems, including controlled dual-flow mechanical ventilation;
• the replacement of single-glazed glass walls;
• roof slope insulation, attic ceilings and roof terraces.

These works can still be integrated into a major renovation project when they meet the criteria of the supported pathway. Some may also continue to benefit from Energy Savings Certificates (CEE), subject to the specific conditions of each project sheet.

Heat pumps remain eligible for funding through MaPrimeRénov'

The process by gesture remains open to air/water, geothermal or solar thermal heat pumps, as well as equipment for connection to a heating or cooling network supplied mainly by renewable or recovered energy.

The removal of an oil tank and the completion of a non-mandatory energy audit also remain eligible. However, until December 31, 2027, the removal of an oil tank must be combined with the installation of an eligible heat pump or connection to a heating or cooling network.

Specific provisions remain in place in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion. These relate in particular to solar water heaters, protection against solar radiation, as well as ventilated roofs and cladding.

Housing units F and G remain eligible for the gesture-based pathway

The announced exclusion of F and G rated properties from the "by gesture" program has been postponed. These properties will still be able to apply for MaPrimeRénov' grants for eligible renovations until December 31, 2027.

For these same works, the obligation to provide an EPC in metropolitan France is also postponed to January 1, 2028.

The supported program for major renovations is, for its part, refocused on homes rated E, F, or G before work began. The MaPrimeRénov' guide published by the National Housing Agency for September 2026 confirms this requirement for all income brackets.

A new development in the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) on January 1, 2027

Electrification will also be encouraged by a change in the method used to calculate the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). A decree dated August 19, 2026, will lower the conversion factor for electricity to primary energy from 1,9 to 1,7, effective January 1, 2027.

Conventional primary energy consumption will mechanically decrease for homes using electricity. This development could improve the energy efficiency rating of certain properties, particularly those heated by a heat pump or electric equipment.

According to the latest estimate published by the Government, approximately 300.000 homes primarily heated by electricity could be moved out of energy efficiency classes F and G. This change will, however, remain conventional: it will not alter the building's final energy consumption, its insulation, or directly affect the bills of its occupants.

Hellio calls for a stable framework for project leaders

Hellio believes that the growing role of Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) must be accompanied by greater regulatory clarity. The increasing number of changes in scope, application dates, and conditions for combining benefits complicates the application process for both households and businesses.

“We are delighted that the commitment to accelerating electrification is now clearly stated. However, this strategy must remain pragmatic, adapted to the realities of each building, each region, and each use, by mobilizing the right mix of low-carbon solutions. Electrification must also not make us forget a fundamental principle: the cleanest energy is first and foremost the energy we don't consume. Energy management and energy efficiency policies must remain the foundation of the transition, with electrification complementing and strengthening them. The challenge now is to provide visibility to stakeholders on the ground and ensure complementarity between the various support mechanisms. Energy Savings Certificates will play a central role in this new framework, provided they are part of a stable and transparent system that allows households, businesses, and local authorities to invest with confidence,” says Pierre-Marie Perrin, Director of Public Affairs and Communication for the Hellio Group.