A baseless rumor is spreading on social media about an "energy confinement" that would involve rationing resources, power outages, and mandatory remote work. The French Ministry of Economy and Finance, known as Bercy, has officially denied these claims. This idea, which has been circulating since 2022 among critics of the government and the European Union, has recently resurfaced through sovereignist media and conspiracy theories. The rumor is largely based on a post from September 22, 2026, by the user @labbe_tonniere2 on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which claimed that President Emmanuel Macron would announce the start of an "energy confinement" that evening. The post, which has been viewed over 500,000 times, makes no reference to any official government documents or sources and is not supported by any verified information. Alongside the rumor, artificial intelligence-generated visuals have been shared online, listing eight hypothetical restrictive measures, including rationing, mandatory remote work, movement restrictions, and power outages via the Linky smart meter system. These visuals further fuel speculation but lack any foundation in reality. When contacted by the news outlet 20 Minutes, Bercy's press office reiterated that there are no official plans for such measures. No credible source has confirmed the rumor, and all available evidence suggests it is unfounded. The concept of an "energy confinement" is not new. It has been a recurring theme in critical and sovereignist circles since 2022, often used to challenge government energy policies. During the energy crisis of 2022, similar rumors were spread, frequently used to criticize energy-saving measures. More recently, rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions, such as those around the Strait of Hormuz in March-April 2026, led to alarmist articles on sites like Putsch.media and Sentinelle Pulse, which explored the idea in detail. In April 2026, 20 Minutes had already debunked a similar rumor about European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging Europeans to stay home and conserve energy. The European Commission officially denied any such plans at the time. In recent weeks, the rumor has been revived by sovereignist media, including Tocsin, which has covered the topic extensively in its programs. On September 21, 2026, a video titled "Shortages: They Are Preparing an Energy Confinement" on Tocsin's platform received over 37,000 views. Meanwhile, former European Parliament member Florian Philippot has also promoted the idea of an "energy confinement" for months, suggesting that various crises—Covid, the conflict in Ukraine, fuel shortages, and climate change—might be used as a pretext for shifting from health-related lockdowns to energy-related restrictions. On September 18, 2026, President Macron held a meeting with party leaders and presidential election candidates, but there was no mention of an "energy confinement." His focus was on protecting critical infrastructure, ensuring energy supply security, and addressing rising fuel prices. This Thursday evening, Macron will address the public in an interview broadcast on TF1 and France 2, where he will likely clarify the situation further.