Law DDADUE 2025:
How the IoT can help you meet the new obligations
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With the promulgation of the DDADUE law (n° 2025-391) in April 2025, corporate energy governance enters a new era. Transposing European Directive 2023/1791,this law makes energy efficiency a national strategic priority. Above all, it changes the rules of the game: it is no longer size or turnover that triggers obligations, but final energy consumption.
New obligations targeting large consumers
From the threshold of 2.75 GWh/year of average consumption (i.e. approximately 10 TJ/year), companies are now required to:
- Carry out an energy audit covering 80% of their consumption before 11 October 2026, and every four years thereafter;
- Submit their consumption data to the authorities within two months of the audit (ADEME);
- Implement a documented, public energy action plan, with annual monitoring.
And above 23.6 GWh/year, the introduction of an ISO 50001-certified Energy Management System (EMS) becomes mandatory by October 2027.
These requirements are not confined to the private sector: local authorities, public establishments and data centres are also affected, with specific obligations to reduce annual consumption and step up energy reporting.
Different requirements for different profiles
While the DDADUE Act establishes a common framework, it also takes account of the diversity of the players involved. For local authorities, public establishments and small organisations, certain deadlines have been deferred: the renovation of 3% of the surface area of buildings or certain reporting obligations can be postponed until 2026 or even 2029, depending on the case.
For private companies, on the other hand, consumption thresholds are the main triggers. From 2.75 GWh/year, the first obligations apply, with no deferral.
In all cases, having a reliable measurement system using IoT sensors means you can position yourself precisely against these thresholds and prepare for future action.
The energy audit: an exercise in precision… based on data
L’aAn energy audit is more than just a formality. It must be carried out by a certified professional (OPQIBI, LNE, AFNOR, etc.), comply with standard EN 16247, cover a significant proportion of energy uses (buildings, industrial processes, transport, etc.), and above all be based on reliable, traceable and usable data. More than a diagnosis, it serves as the basis for a concrete roadmap towards energy performance, and must be repeated every 4 years, covering at least 80% of the energy bill.
To meet this growing demand for justification, traceability and transparency, you need the right tools. Accurate monitoring of energy consumption is essential to meet these obligations.
IoT sensors as a strategic lever
This is where IoT sensors come into their own. Specially designed for energy monitoring, they enable :
- Real-time collection of consumption data (heating, electricity, ventilation, etc.).
- Time-stamped and continuous recording of data, essential for providing input for audits;
- Centralising and archiving measurements to produce compliant reports that can be used for control or audit purposes;
- Automated detection of anomalies or deviations in consumption to drive corrective action.
These sensors can be easily integrated into existing infrastructures and send data to centralised platforms, ready for analysis, display and regulatory transmission. They enable continuous energy management, remotely and in real time.
So the IoT is no longer just a tool for optimisation: it is becoming a genuine instrument of environmental governance, perfectly aligned with the expectations of the DDADUE.
Data centres: an emblematic case study
Because of their high energy consumption, data centers are subject to specific regulations. Data centers with an installed IT power of 500 kW or more are required to submit a set of key indicators on a regular basis:
- Total electricity consumption;
- PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness);
- Waste heat recovery;
- The site’s carbon footprint.
IoT sensors make it possible to monitor temperature, consumption per rack and overall energy efficiency in real time, and to automate regulatory reporting, while paving the way for greater energy recovery from equipment.
Transparency and traceability: stricter requirements
The DDADUE places data transparency at the heart of its system. Audit results, action plans and follow-ups must be published in companies‘ annual reports or made available to the public. The data must be reliable, traceable and secure.
This also raises questions about confidentiality and business secrecy, particularly in industrial sectors. IoT sensors provide a response to this dual challenge: they guarantee both the regulatory quality of the data and its secure processing, in compliance with RGPD and ISO requirements. The IoT enhances energy traceability by providing reliable, time-stamped data.
Penalties for non-compliance: a real legal and financial challenge
Failure to comply with the obligations set out in the law can result in administrative fines of up to 2% of sales excluding VAT, and up to 4% in the event of a repeat offence. These penalties apply to failure to carry out an audit, transmit data, draw up an action plan or obtain ISO 50001 certification.
Against this backdrop, anticipating compliance using reliable energy measurement and management tools is becoming a key factor in securing… and competitive advantage.
Preparing for the audit now means greater peace of mind tomorrow
For all organisations approaching or exceeding 2.75 GWh/year, anticipating the audit is a strategic priority. From now on, this means
- Ensuring the reliability of energy data collection using high-performance sensors.
- Structuring a clear, documented management system.
- Providing solid evidence to secure the audit and mandatory declarations.
The law provides for stiffer penalties in the event of non-compliant environmental claims. Any communication in this area will have to be based on a robust and verifiable methodology
IoT sensors make it possible not only to produce the data expected by auditors, but also to track changes over time, build appropriate dashboards and prove the commitments made.
What you can do today
Investing in IoT sensors today not only means improving operational performance, it also means complying with a requirement for truth, imposed by law. For businesses, this means
- Choosing sensors capable of monitoring the right environmental indicators for their sector;
- Ensuring that the data collected is usable, time-stamped, centralised and traceable;
- Working closely with suppliers to design IoT devices that are truly aligned with regulatory challenges.
By integrating the IoT into their compliance strategy, businesses are getting a head start. They are no longer reacting to obligations: they are anticipating them, transforming them into performance drivers, and ensuring that their environmental message is credible, backed up and sustainable.
