Jean-Bernard Lévy

To limit increases in electricity bills, the French state required EDF to sell up to an additional 20 TWh of nuclear electricity to competitors at regulated prices in 2022. Jean-Bernard Lévy strongly challenged the measure, and EDF brought proceedings before the Council of State and filed a €8.34 billion compensation claim against the state.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the complainant

At the end of Jean-Bernard Lévy's tenure, EDF experienced a major crisis involving stress corrosion discovered in several reactors, maintenance outages and historically low availability of its nuclear fleet. Production collapsed just as energy prices soared, aggravating the group's losses.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Jean-Bernard Lévy defended the 'Hercule' restructuring plan, which would separate several business divisions to reform nuclear regulation and improve EDF's investment capacity. Unions and numerous parliamentarians saw a risk of dismantling and partial privatisation, triggering several strikes.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Jean-Martin Folz's report on the Flamanville EPR concluded in 2019 that the accumulation of delays and cost overruns constituted a 'failure' for EDF, highlighting unrealistic estimates, loss of expertise and inadequate project management.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

EDF indirectly sold 49.9 % of RTE to Caisse des Dépôts and CNP Assurances to reduce debt and finance investment. Unions, particularly CGT, condemned the financial transaction as potentially opening the way to privatisation of strategic infrastructure.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Shortly after arriving at EDF, Jean-Bernard Lévy launched a plan to increase the number of days worked by certain managers. Faced with strong opposition from employees and unions, management withdrew its initial proposal in September 2015. A voluntary paid agreement covering 7 to 16 additional days was eventually signed in 2016.

Attribution

Direct responsibility

EDF finance director Thomas Piquemal resigned in March 2016 amid disagreement over the decision-making timetable for the British Hinkley Point C project, believing EDF's financial position did not allow such a rapid commitment. The crisis highlighted the financial risks of the project supported by Jean-Bernard Lévy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility