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PARIS — French power suppliers have requested 147 terawatt hours (TWh) of utility EDF’s nuclear power generation for 2020 through the ARENH auction window, the energy market regulator CRE said on Friday, the strongest demand to date.

Under the so-called ARENH mechanism, set up in 2011, EDF’s rivals have the right to buy up to 100 TWh, or about a quarter of its annual nuclear output, at a fixed price of 42 euros ($46.29) per megawatt hour (MWh).

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The strong demand signals a likely increase in French retail power prices next year because the suppliers will have to buy from the wholesale market to meet the needs of their clients.

EDF, which operates France’s 58 nuclear reactors, cut the target output for French nuclear generation in 2019 to between 384 TWh and 388 TWh from 390 TWh on Nov. 14 due to extended outages of its reactors.

The regulator said it will publish an analysis looking at the consequences of the strong demand above the 100 TWh ceiling.