Manage your bill with "Bleu Ciel"

Q. We don’t understand the tariff system with EDF but would like to take advantage of an off-peak electricity supply rate if available. I have heard of EDF’s Bleu Ciel offers - would that apply?
P.G.

A. Three different contracts are available under EDF’s Bleu Ciel plan.
These are:

1. The basic rate (option base).
This is designed for householders who do not have many electrical appliances but want to use these at any time of day, all year round. For example, a one-year contract for a householder using an average 15kwh (kilowatts/hour) of electricity a month, would cost 227.56, plus the cost of the electricity at 0.1085 per unit (kwh) used.

2. The high/low peak rate
(option heures pleines/creuses)
This is for customers using electricity up to eight hours/day at off-peak times (12.00-17.00 and 20.00-8.00; variable in each region).
A one-year contract for a householder using an average 15kwh of electricity a month, would cost 361.73 but electricity used during off-peak hours would cost only 0.0661 per kwh.

3. The basic need rate
(tarif première nécessité)
This is for people paying less than 460 in social contributions. A reduction of 30 to 50% is available (according to individual circumstances) and there is also a favourable rate on the first 100kw of electricity used each month. This contract is available for people who belong to the French state healthcare system’s CMU regime. Those who are not part of this need to ask for a certificate of entitlement (un certificat de droit) from their local state health insurance body (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie).

More information is available from EDF on free-call (in France only): 0800 333123.

For easier budgeting, it is possible to pay a monthly sum based on a calculated estimation of electricity use. A price table and information in English is available at the EDF website (http://particuliers.edf.fr), following the link ‘Foreign Visitors.’ Gas contracts are also available with EDF.