DPE 2027: your electrically heated villa could gain a class
What is changing, precisely
The DPE (energy performance certificate) does not simply measure the electricity a house consumes. It converts that consumption into "primary energy", meaning the energy needed to produce and deliver it. To do so, it applies a coefficient: the electricity conversion factor.
A decree dated 19 August 2026, published in the Journal officiel on 26 August, lowers this coefficient from 1.9 to 1.7. The rule applies from 1 January 2027, to DPEs and energy audits alike. It is the second revision in two years: the coefficient had already dropped from 2.3 to 1.9 on 1 January 2026.
In practice, the same electricity consumption will weigh less in the calculation. The house has not changed, but its rating may improve.
Is your villa concerned?
Every house uses electricity, if only for lighting. The change really matters for those that also use it for heating, air conditioning or hot water. On the Côte d'Azur this is common: heat pumps, reversible air conditioning and thermodynamic water heaters equip many villas.
According to Service Public, the rating of these homes may improve by one class, and by two classes in rare cases, mainly for smaller properties. The gain is therefore not guaranteed. On the other hand, no rating can get worse because of this change.
Why it matters when you sell
The energy rating appears in the listing and in the sale file. It shapes the buyer's first impression, and sometimes the price discussion. Buyers today look closely at the condition of a property and the works to be planned.
When a house is rated E, F or G, the seller must also provide an energy audit at the time of the preliminary agreement or the deed of sale. A villa moving from E to D would, in principle, no longer be subject to this obligation. This should be confirmed case by case with your notaire.
For a villa that is rented out, the rating matters too. Since 1 January 2025, homes rated G can no longer be offered for rent in mainland France. This ban will extend to homes rated F on 1 January 2028, then E on 1 January 2034. A buyer considering renting will pay attention to it.