If you’re from the UK, the US or Australia or a whole raft of places where electricity is just something that comes into your house and you use – then the French system may surprise you…

Domestic Electricity in France is restricted

When you buy a home in France – it’s likely to have an electricity supply already. Of course it might not, there are plenty of ancient properties that expats love to do up and they might need a supply laid on. And new builds will also need a new supply.

But, let’s just assume, you’ve bought a house and it’s got electricity.

Now, here’s where things might be a bit different from home. The electricity supply into your home is not unlimited. You choose how much electricity you’re going to use and you pay accordingly.

Take me, when I bought my bargain basement cow shed/ farmhouse in France the previous owner’s tariff was for 3KW of electricity per day which I didn’t know. For months it drove me mad when I would turn the kettle on and all the power would die.

Because I had a hot water heater on, lights, the TV and a few everyday items, just one tiny bit over the 3KW limit and bang – the fuse box blew. Eventually a neighbour kindly explained that I just had to ask EDF, the French electricity board, to upgrade my tariff and of course it would cost more money. I did and it was all fine.

Check your electricity tariff

Until that is, the house renovations moved on another stage. An old and decrepit pig sty in the garden became my office. It’s lovely, all my books are there, my computer, phone and heaters. Quite big heaters as it gets cold here in rural northern France.

I moved in with big smiles, turned everything on and bang. It all went off. My husband was walking around scratching his head until it occurred to us that we’re using more electricity with the new heaters. We turned them off and turned everything else on and – it all worked. It was time to call EDF again. We worked out how much electricity we’d need, EDF may advise you to get an electrician to do that, and I phoned for an upgrade. An EDF workman arrived within 5 days at the specified time. Whilst waiting I worked in the cold, bobble hat on, fingerless gloves and 4 jumpers – it wasn’t easy. The EDF man fiddled with the fuse box and it was fixed in minutes. Everything works now.

So, if you’re wondering “why does my electricity keep going off in France” – it might be your tariff needs upgrading!

Read about EDF and the EDF English language helpline number.

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All diagnostics/reports are carried out by independent survey technicians with appropriate certificates of competence.   The technician will carry out a visual inspection as to the safety of your electrical installation, for which there are 6 key points as follows:

1. Presence of a main RCD/Isolator. There MUST be a main switch, which can turn off the complete electrical installation
2. Main RCDs designed for earth protection.
3. MCBs designed to protect the cables that supply power to the individual circuits which are correctly designated for the load of the circuit.
4. Bonding, earths which are bonded to pipe work in bathrooms and showers where presence of water increases the chance of electric shock.
5. Highlight equipment that is out of date and unsuitable for use or risk of direct contact [exposed cables]
6. Mechanical protection; missing joint box lids, trunking covers and worn cables.

The electrical report remains valid for three years and must be included with the sale of agreement or the deed of sale.

From a seller’s point of view it may be worth considering remedial action before committing to the report/sale process.  A diagnostic technician undertaking a review for a property sale report will only be carrying out a visual inspection, they cannot see any hidden error or faults. This could be a good time to consult with a competent and qualified electrician to assess the state of your electrics.

Once the diagnostic review is completed, if there are any issues identified or recommendations for action – it may be worth your while to get them remedied so that those issues don’t become a buyer’s tool for negotiating the price of your house the wrong way.

By Paul Wilkins, Electricien Anglais En France

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When you undertake your search for your dream home in France, it is likely that the last thing on your mind will be what sort of state the electrics are in. Fortunately, as part of the French house buying process, sellers are required to have carried out a number of diagnostic reports to include “etat de l’installation intérieure d’électricricité” or – state of domestic electrical installation. The purpose of the electrical diagnostic report is to assess the safety of the electrical system, particularly where installations are over 15 years old. When you look at older, more traditional French properties you’ll find that many are superbly priced, but when you weigh up the sum total of diagnostic reports, it may explain why the price is so competitive.

Many an expat has purchased a property and applied their own knowledge to electrical installation. Now, I believe and agree this is fine up to a point – but that point is when you start to overload the supply that already comes into your home; or when the work has been carried out by an ‘incompetent’ electrician.

Installing electricity in France

Electrical wiring is completely different in France to the UK. Earth size on twin & earth cable and fuse boards are different. We have seen plenty of properties with relatively good electrics, and others, which are pardon the pun, literally quite shocking.

For example we have witnessed homes where there are English sockets and switches and even the use of English cable and fuseboards.  Many homeowners think that all the while nothing has gone wrong this is fine. However it isn’t legal and may invalidate your insurance policy. Worse yet, when it comes to selling a property with British electrical fitting – you’ll find that this is a major issue. You will not be able to pass muster with the diagnostics test and it will be necessary to fix the problem before any marketing can go ahead.

This is where the knowledge of a qualified and competent electrician pays dividends. It is very important to have an understanding of the load that appliances require and the impact that they have on the various circuits around your home. A good electrician will know where additions to existing circuits can be made and where new circuits need to be installed. I’ve carried out plenty of rectification jobs for sellers who’ve received poor diagnostic reports for their electrics. I’ve also been called in by buyers to report on the state of electrics which has helped them negotiate a reduction in price because of the need to pay for re-wiring etc.

If you’re thinking of buying a house in France, or have a house in France – electrics can seem like the least of your problems at time but don’t be caught out, plan ahead and come out on top.

Paul Wilkins is known as the Electricien Anglais En France. Paul moved to France in August 2012 having been a self-employed fully qualified electrician in the UK. He is registered with the Chambre de Metier, Artisan level electrician.

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A recent discussion with friends and family highlighted that some home owners are not making the most of night rates to heat their water tank. In fact their water tanks are using electricity in the day time at peak rate, which can be quite expensive.

In our rental home, we have a day/night timer which means that our hot water tank is being heated up overnight during the hours of 10.30pm and 6.30am. We take advantage of the “tariff bleu” night rate with Seolis, our electricity provider, which lessens the cost of heating the tank. We have hot water available throughout the day without the worry of heating it at day time electricity costs.

You might want to check your electricity bill to see if a cheaper night rate is applied. If it’s not obvious, just enquire with your service provider.

If you are already taking advantage of a cheaper night rate, is your water tank taking advantage too?  You will need a contacteur jour/nuit or day/night switch and this is located at the fuse board. The diagram below will help you determine if you have this:

The idea of the contacteur jour/nuit  is that when set to auto it will activate during your cheaper night rate, usually 10.30pm to 6.30am.

If you have not got this switch you should contact an electrician to install it for you and start saving some money!

More about electricity tariffs in France

More about electricity in France

Paul Wilkins is known as the Electricien Anglais En France. Paul moved to France in August 2012 having been a self-employed fully qualified electrician in the UK. He is registered with the Chambre de Metier, Artisan level electrician.

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It is not unusual to find that you have a 3 phase electrical supply in a French property. It is common particularly in farms or buildings with industrial use, buildings that might once have been those things but are now residential buildings or where you will need high current.

The majority of new installations [new builds and rewires] are now supplied in single phase.

Single phase supply circuits can be freely assigned, ideally by a qualified electrician and this is the most suitable system for domestic use. Please bear in mind that you need the appropriate kVA supply (a KVA is simply 1,000 volt amps) for the size of your dwelling. You need to work out which is most appropriate for your home by listing the electrical appliances you use and working out how much electricity you will need at maximum capacity. The most common units of supply are: 6kVA,  9kVA and 12kVA.

EDF (Electricité de France) will happily help you to resolve this question (they have an English speaking helpline), or ask your electrician for help. The current supply you choose can only be assigned by EDF. This unit of supply determines the tariff you are charged. 6kVA-9kVA is usual for most houses, the lower the kVA, the lower the standing charge for electricity supply. If you do not choose the correct tariff but go too low, you’ll find appliances tripping out on a daily basis so be wary of trying to save costs by going for a lower kVA supply than you need.

3 phase in simple terms means that you have 3 live terminals and 1 neutral at the meter supplied by EDF and the fuse board is a lot bigger. It also means that you will also pay a high standing charge for your electricity since the supply enters at a higher kVA i.e. 15kVA. What this actually means is that there are 3 lots of 5kVA [25A] on each phase.

You need to ensure that the current that is drawn must be balanced on each phase as overloading on one phase will potentially cause nuisance tripping. High voltage items like cookers that are installed on a 3 phase system need to be installed correctly for 3 phase usage.

If you have 3 phase electricity and want to have this changed to single phase – call EDF, they will arrange for the system to be reviewed and amended. Your electricity bill will confirm what tariff you are on or give EDF a call.

Details for calling EDF in each region or their English speaking helpline.

Paul Wilkins is known as the Electricien Anglais En France. Paul moved to France in August 2012 having been a self-employed fully qualified electrician in the UK. He is registered with the Chambre de Metier, Artisan level electrician.

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EDF, Electricité de france are the main supplier for electricity in France.

EDF Bleu Ciel advises that they can offer two types of tariffs:

1. Tarif Bleu whose prices are set by the authorities
2. Mon Contrat Electricité whose prices are freely set by EDF

For the Tarif Bleu offer, you have 3 options:

• Option Base (flat Rate)
• Option Heures Pleines / Heures Creuses (peak and reduced off peak)
• Option Tempo (variable rate)

For the Mon Contrat Electricité offer, there are two options:

• Option Base
• Option Heures Pleines / Heures Creuses

For up-to-date information on the cost of each tariff visit the dedicated page on the EDF website.

Flat Rate – Option Base

EDF advises “The Tarif Bleue option will suit you especially if you have few appliances and if you want to eat at any time without worrying about the time, day or year”. This is basically a fixed rate energy tariff.

Off Peak – Heures Pleines/Heures Creuses

EDF advises “The Heures Pleines option will suit you especially if you want to take advantage of price per kWh at the most advantageous to the day (ie 8 hours daily peak)”. Basically if you have a night-storage electric water heater, or storage radiators, then you would be best to choose this option, which provides off peak electricity rates to heat your appliances. See peak and off-peak rates on the EDF website.

Tempo

This tariff is a bit more complicated to get to grips with.   Most of  us are used to simply switching things on and getting a bill without thinking about whether it costs more to switch on today than it did  yesterday. With this tariff, you’ll pay less for your electricity on good days (blue days) and more (much more) on bad days (red days) for instance when it’s very cold and the pull on the grid is high. You can get a meter which will clearly indicate what sort of day it is in terms of paying for your energy or you can check this page on EDF’s website 

On the subject of Tempo EDF advises “This option will suit you if you plan to use your devices according to the colour of the day, and it is reserved for individuals who hold a minimum subscription of 9 kVA”.

As we said before, if you’re in any doubt about what tariff suits you, and what level of Electric energy intake you need, ask for a free assessment of your requirements by EDF called a Conseil Tarifaire, either through the English speaking helpline or your local EDF shop or office.

Meter Readings in France

Electricity meter readings are conducted every six months and though you can arrange your own meter reading on occasion, or you may be left a card asking you to write in the meter reading or telephone it through, however EDF insist on checking it themselves once a year.

Electricity Bills in France

There are two elements to your bill (facture). Firstly, the standing charge (abonnement), determined by the power supply installed and secondly, the consumption of electricity units. TVA (Value Added Tax) is applied at 20.6% on the standing charge and 19.5% on the consumption. Local taxes (taxe commune/département) are added at around 12%, before TVA.

You can pay your bills online, by mail (cheque), by phone (bank card),  or in cash at your EDF local shop. The online payment form is in French. If you want to pay by direct debit you will need to ask your French bank for a RIB  which you send to EDF. If you need help finding your local EDF shop or sorting out the best way to pay – ring the helpful EDF English speaking helpline: More on Electricity in France

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Electricity in France uses approximately 220 volts/50hz like most of the world outside of North America.

If you come from a country where appliances are designed for 110 volts/60hz, you will need a voltage converter or a transformer depending on the type of appliances or equipment you plan to use in France. As the wall outlets configurations can be different in France from your country, you may also have to buy plug adapters (be careful: plug adapters don’t change the voltage).

France opened its electricity market in 2007, and while state-owned EDF (Electricité de France) remains the largest supplier of electricity in France, households in France can open an account with the supplier of their choice. EDF have an English language page on their website and an English language helpline.

The English language helpline for EDF is 0033562164908 from outside France. If you are calling from within France it is 0562164908.

You can also contact EDF on one of their regional numbers. The phone numbers for each region’s helpline as provided by EDF are shown below. Note that they are all French-speaking.

[1] 00 33 3 20 06 28 69
[2] 0033 1 42 23 30 10
[3] 0033 3 83 40 20 40
[4] 0033 2 99 87 10 72
[5] 0033 2 47 25 10 07
[6] 0033 4 73 44 81 29
[7] 0033 5 56 17 40 70
[8] 0033 4 93 98 70 60

If you are calling from within France, replace the 0033 international code with just 0.

Opening an Account for Electricity in France

It is a good idea to open your electricity account at least two weeks in advance of your move, in order to avoid any power cuts (which can happen when a home is unoccupied for an extended period of time).

To open an account for electricity, start by calling the supplier of your choice (you do not have to start with EDF to open an electricity account). Alternate suppliers often offer rates that are lower than the EDF regulated tariffs include Direct Energie (3099), Lampiris (0 800 944 844), and Happ’e by Engie.

When you the call the supplier, they will ask you for:

Your full address (including floor and apartment number, if applicable)
The name of the previous occupant
Questions about your consumption (the size of the home, how many occupants, how many electrical appliances you have, etc.)
The date that you move in
Your banking information (Relevé d’Identité Bancaire – RIB)

Based on your consumption profile the supplier will suggest an electricity plan and the correct level of electricity input (the puissance de compteur). You can also speak to them about changing the intake of electricity into your house – in France you decide how much you need in increments of 3KW. Most homes in France are on 6KW, though some small apartments may be on 3KW; beware that if you go for a intake that is too low and you use too electrical appliances at the same time, you may find that the safety switch will trip causing a complete loss of power! Your supplier may also ask you to submit a meter reading on the day that you move in.

If you are moving to a new home that does not already have electricity service, you will need to contact the grid operator ERDF (independent subsidiary of EDF), at the appropriate ERDF number for your area. You will need to submit a service installation request, after which ERDF will send you a quote. The total cost will depend on the zone and type of connection required. Once your electricity service is installed, you can sign up for an electricity account with the supplier of your choice.

To close your account for electricity, simply call your supplier at least 48 hours before your moving out date.

French electricity prices, bills and meter readings.

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