By What is Enedis (formerly ERDF)?
Enedis (formerly ERDF — Électricité Réseau Distribution France) is the distribution grid operator for electricity across 95% of France. It is a subsidiary of EDF and operates as a regulated, neutral infrastructure company — meaning it delivers electricity to every home regardless of which energy supplier you choose.
The name changed from ERDF to Enedis in June 2016. You may still see the old name on older tenancy documents or contracts — it refers to the same organisation.
What does Enedis do?
Enedis is responsible for the physical electricity infrastructure between the national transmission network and your home. It does not set your tariff or issue bills — that is your supplier's job. Enedis has four core activities:
- New connections: Enedis connects newly built homes to the electricity grid ;
- Technical interventions: meter activations, deactivations, power level changes, and switches to off-peak tariff options ;
- Meter reading: Enedis reads your meter once or twice a year so your supplier can adjust bills to actual consumption ;
- Outage response: Enedis dispatches technicians to repair faults and restore power after an outage.
When and how do I contact Enedis?
Most interactions with Enedis happen through your energy supplier — you rarely need to contact them directly. The table below shows who to call in the most common situations.
| Situation | Who to contact | Useful French phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Opening an electricity account when moving in | Selectra — English-speaking advisors compare and set up your contract: +33 9 87 67 37 93. Your supplier notifies Enedis on your behalf. | — |
| Power outage at home | Enedis emergency: 09 72 67 50 ** (replace ** with your département number — 75 for Paris, 69 for Lyon). Full list in our Enedis contact guide. | coupure d'électricité — power outage |
| Connecting a newly built home to the grid | Enedis connection service: +33 9 70 83 19 70 | raccordement électrique — electricity connection |
| Question about your bill or contract | Contact your electricity supplier directly — Enedis does not handle billing. | service client — customer service |
- Enedis (ERDF) → Electricity grid operator
- GRDF → Gas distribution operator
- ELD → Local distribution operator
- PDL / PRM → Electricity meter point reference
- PCE → Gas meter point reference
What is GRDF?
GRDF (Gaz Réseau Distribution France) is the distribution system operator for gas across most of France. Like Enedis for electricity, GRDF is a regulated, neutral infrastructure company — a subsidiary of Engie (formerly GDF-Suez) — and delivers gas to every home regardless of which gas supplier you choose.
What does GRDF do?
GRDF's role mirrors that of Enedis but for the gas network. It does not sell gas or issue bills — your supplier does that. GRDF's four key responsibilities are:
- New gas connections: GRDF connects newly built or newly occupied homes to the gas distribution network ;
- Meter reading: GRDF reads your gas meter every six months so your supplier can bill you accurately ;
- Technical interventions: activations, deactivations, meter changes, and maintenance on the gas network ;
- Emergency response: GRDF dispatches technicians in the event of gas leaks or network failures.
GRDF contact numbers
For most situations — opening a gas account, comparing offers, or handling a connection — it is faster to call our English-speaking advisors who deal with GRDF on your behalf. For a gas emergency, call GRDF directly on the number below.
ELDs — local distribution operators
ELDs (entreprises locales de distribution) are local electricity or gas distribution operators that cover around 5% of France. When the national networks were unified in 1946, some cities chose to remain independent, retaining control of their local infrastructure.
Unlike Enedis or GRDF, most ELDs combine both distribution and supply — they own the local network and sell energy directly to customers. This means alternative national suppliers are often not available in ELD territories.
Which cities have ELDs?
There are more than 100 ELDs in France. Three well-known examples:
- In Bordeaux, gas is distributed by Gaz de Bordeaux. Electricity is distributed by Enedis ;
- In Metz, both electricity and gas are distributed by UEM ;
- In Grenoble, both electricity and gas are distributed by GEG.
What do ELDs do differently?
In ELD territories, the local operator performs two roles that are separated everywhere else in France:
- Distribution: maintaining and operating the local electricity or gas network (equivalent to Enedis or GRDF) ;
- Supply: selling electricity or gas directly to customers (equivalent to a commercial energy provider).
Because ELDs act as both distributor and supplier, they often have a monopoly in their territory. Prices and consumer protections are still regulated by the same national rules.
Am I in an ELD territory?
The easiest way to check is to start an energy contract search — any ELD territory will be flagged automatically and the local operator's details will appear. Our English-speaking advisors can confirm your situation in minutes: call +33 9 87 67 37 93 (Mon–Fri 8am–9pm, Sat 9am–7pm).
Frequently Asked Questions
Your energy supplier (EDF, Engie, TotalEnergies, etc.) is the commercial company you pay bills to and who sets the per-kWh price. Enedis and GRDF are regulated network operators — they physically deliver electricity and gas to your home, read your meter, and respond to outages. No matter which supplier you choose, Enedis or GRDF always deliver the energy.
No. When you open an electricity contract with a supplier — or through Selectra at +33 9 87 67 37 93 — your supplier contacts Enedis on your behalf to activate your supply. You only need to contact Enedis directly in the event of a power outage or to connect a brand-new property to the grid.
If you smell gas or suspect a leak, call GRDF's emergency line +33 800 47 33 33 immediately (free, available 24/7). Open windows and doors, do not use electrical switches, and evacuate the building. An operator will guide you and dispatch a technician if needed.
You cannot choose your grid operator — Enedis or your local ELD is determined by your address and is fixed. What you can freely choose is your energy supplier (the company you pay for electricity or gas). Switching supplier is free, takes 5–15 days, and never causes a service interruption — Enedis or GRDF continues to deliver your energy regardless.
Yes. France's smart electricity meter is called the Linky, deployed nationwide by Enedis. It transmits consumption data automatically so you receive accurate bills every month. Gas also has a smart meter — the Gazpar — deployed by GRDF. Both are installed free of charge by the network operator.