Gas, electricity and water suppliers

Gas and electricity suppliers

The French energy market is open to competition, so you can choose whoever you want to supply your electricity and gas, although mains gas is not obtainable in all areas and bottled gas is widely used.

Several major suppliers (fournisseurs) exist, though the market is still dominated by state-owned EDF (Electricité de France) for electricity and 33% state-owned Engie for gas.

There are just under 30 different suppliers ranging from Alterna and Antargaz to TotalEnergies and Eni.

EDF offers electricity at ‘tarif réglementé’ prices set by the state, while others offer supply at the tarif réglementé or at the market price, which may be cheaper. For gas all contracts are market based since 2023. Find suppliers in your area by typing your postcode here under Comparateur d'offres and then estimating your consumption (a big all-electric house will use 9kVa; a three-room electric heated flat, 6kVa).

Changing supplier is simple: pick a supplier, contact them and sign a contract with them and they will organize the changeover; no gaps, no extra cost and no set contract period.

The national grid and gas distribution networks are run by Enedis/RTE and GRDF respectively, and they do meter-reading and maintenance.

If the gas and electricity are connected when you move in to your new home, you can read the meter and give your provider the numbers. However, they may be cut off if the property has been empty for a while.

Gas is usually disconnected for safety reasons. Reconnection and the ‘mise en service’ should take about five days.

EDF has an English helpline on 09 69 36 63 83 (Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00), or you can contact an English-speaking adviser by email on simpleenergywithedf@edf.fr

Engie has assistance available in English on its website including how to contact the company by email, if you prefer. It has no English helpline details published.

In 2018 the ‘chèque énergie’ replaced cheap ‘social’ energy tariffs for residents on low incomes eligible for benefits. The cheque is a means-tested annual payment to help with energy bills – no application is needed as it is issued automatically as a cheque based on your previous year’s income tax declaration.

Changing your energy provider

France’s energy market has been open for years, making it is easy and free to choose a new supplier. In 2024, the last year for which there are figures available, around 30% of users changed electricity supplier, and around 45% gas supplier.

You may switch at any time, without giving a reason but may need to pay fees specified in the contract. If you do not change then supplier contracts renew automatically, in what is called ‘tacite reconduction’. Find suppliers ‘fournisseurs’ by entering your postcode at energie-info.fr and different tariff calculations mean you can choose for your needs.

Total Direct Énergie (formerly known as Direct Énergie), now integrated into the TotalEnergies group, is the no.1 challenger to EDF and Engie.

For electricity, anyone changing from regulated tariffs to other market-price options can return to the regulated contract at any time. These tariffs may not be the cheapest, but are stable as they are set by the state. This option is not available for gas, as all contracts are market-based.

If you do switch providers, your new supplier needs the 14-figure ‘xI’ (electricity): this is on the electric meter, previous bill or, when moving house, can be found by giving details of the former owner.

Get smart with meter readings

In France the installation of smart meters that measure a household’s electricity and gas use and communicate the information directly to the energy supplier is legally mandatory, with the responsibility placed on the network operators to carry out the installation. The project started in 2015, with the aim of enhancing energy efficiency and facilitating real-time data collection for better network management.

Green Linky electricity smart meters and orange Gazpar gas smart meters are run under electricity distributor Enedis and gas distributor GRDF, and are in widespread use across France.

The meters use digital wireless technology to process the meter reading and simplify billing – customers can check their usage online, setting alerts if usage or costs go above normal.

Initially, objections were raised over fears surrounding privacy and data safety, alongside health concerns but the vast majority of households now have meters. Since 2025, those who do not have a Linky meter pay €64 per year for a technician to come and take readings; a Gazpar meter reading costs €35-40.

The regulatory body CRE (Commission de Régulation de l’Energie) have stated that in isolated cases where installing a meter is a technical impossibility (ie. due to reasons such as lack of connectivity, physical constraints, or safety concerns), there is to be no charge. Be aware that if this does apply to you, the operator may want to schedule periodic visits for future re-evaluation, or carry out infrastructure upgrades.

Green power: how to find a renewable energy supplier

64% of France’s electricity comes from nuclear power, 28% from renewable energy (including 12% from hydro, 10% from wind, 4% from solar, and 2% from biomass/waste/other), and 8% from fossil fuels (6% from gas, and 2% from oil/coal).

France has several ‘green’ electricity suppliers in a market that saw Enercoop as one of its pioneers. It offers 100% renewable energy sourced from local energy suppliers while most others match consumers’ needs with green energy production. Renewably sourced gas is available from the likes of eKWateur.

If you use the comparison function, putting in green-sourced energy as your priority, you will probably find there are numerous offers in your area.

France is among Europe’s sunniest countries but while solar has gained a foothold it is still only a comparatively small proportion of normal electricity production.

Grants are available – for those eligible – wishing to fit solar panels on properties, although several government programs have decreased of late (including the rates at which surplus electricity can be sold back to suppliers). However, measures are in place to drop VAT on installations.

Water supply and sewerage

Water is supplied either by the locality from its own resources, or by a private water firm retained by the commune. This means prices can vary between different communes for what is essentially the same product – the average price of water in of France is around €4/m3, though this varies by area and management model. Despite the fact people have a long-standing habit of drinking bottled mineral water in France, tap water is clean and safe to drink (eau potable), and a lot more environmentally friendly.

All domestic supplies are metered and charges vary substantially. Water is usually invoiced annually or semi-annually and the tax authority may act as collecting agent for a locality. The invoice also contains, in areas where there is a sewerage system, a charge for waste disposal (‘assainissement’) which covers collection, transport, and treatment of water, and is also charged per m3 based on the volume of water consumed. However, not all properties are connected to public sewers and many people have to use – or, when redeveloping a property, have to install – a ‘fosse septique’ or septic tank.

These must meet certain standards and are subject to checks by a body called sPaNC. A certificate of conformity from within the last three years must be included in property sales documents.

Water leaks on the consumer’s side of the meter are the consumer’s problem – and may become costly.

During periods of drought or heatwaves, water restrictions are set in place and can include hosepipe bans (‘interdiction d’arroser’), restricting car washing, and prohibiting the filling of private swimming pools among others.