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Key things to know before you move in
Before you call
- →You must open an account in your name for each utility — electricity, gas, water and internet are never bundled by default;
- →Have your French address, IBAN, ID and the previous occupant's name ready before calling any supplier;
- →Set up your contracts at least two weeks before move-in to avoid service interruptions, especially if the home has been empty for several months.
Good to know
- →Bills are typically issued every two months, with direct debit (prélèvement automatique) the standard payment method;
- →English-speaking advisors via Selectra: 09 87 67 37 93 for energy and 09 77 55 72 27 for broadband, both free from a French line.
| Utility | Who to contact | Billing cycle | Set up before |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Supplier (EDF or an alternative) | Every 2 months | 2 weeks |
| Natural gas | Supplier (Engie or an alternative) | Every 2 months | 2 weeks |
| Water | Local operator / your mairie | Every 6 months | At move-in |
| Internet & mobile | Operator (Orange, SFR, Free, Bouygues) | Monthly | 2–3 weeks |
Flats usually include water in the building charges. Free English-speaking help: 09 87 67 37 93 (energy) · 09 77 55 72 27 (broadband).
The same handful of documents unlocks almost every contract — have them to hand before you pick up the phone:
Contact details
Your French address
Previous occupant's name
French IBAN & BIC
Photo ID
Electricity
Electricity in France is fully deregulated, so you choose your supplier freely. The distribution network — the cables, the meter, the response to outages — is operated nationally by Enedis (rebranded from ERDF in 2016). EDF remains the historic supplier and the only one offering the regulated tariff (tarif bleu), but alternative suppliers almost always undercut it.
Aim to activate electricity service about two weeks before move-in to guarantee no interruption. If the previous occupant left more than six months ago, the supply may be physically cut and reactivation by Enedis can take a few business days.
Opening an Electricity Account
To open an account in your name, call your chosen supplier with the documents listed above — your contact details, the full address, the previous occupant's name and your French IBAN for direct debit. You can also sign up online or in an EDF agency, but the phone route is usually the fastest, especially if you ask for an English-speaking line.
English-Speaking Customer Service for Electricity
Among historic suppliers, only EDF runs an English-language line, on 09 69 36 63 83 (press 2 for commercial enquiries and account opening). The call is free from a French landline.
For an offer cheaper than the EDF regulated tariff, Selectra's English-speaking advisors compare every supplier on the market and open the contract for you on 09 87 67 37 93. The full directory of English-speaking helplines in France covers every other utility line.
Billing and Meter Reading
Electricity bills are usually issued every two months and estimated from your previous consumption. An Enedis representative visits twice a year to read the meter, and your monthly direct debit is adjusted accordingly. If you have a Linky smart meter, readings are taken remotely and bills can be based on actual consumption every cycle.
Your bill always contains two charges: a fixed monthly subscription and a per-kWh rate for the energy you consume. The EDF regulated tariff is set by the public authorities and reviewed annually, while alternative suppliers usually offer a discount on one or both lines. Choose between a flat rate and a peak/off-peak (heures creuses) plan depending on when you actually use power.
Voltage, Outlets and Appliances
France runs on 230 V at 50 Hz, with the standard European Type E socket. Appliances from elsewhere in Europe will work fine, sometimes with a plug adaptor. From North America (120 V at 60 Hz), check each device individually: laptops and phone chargers are usually dual-voltage, but hairdryers, kettles and clocks usually are not. Our guide to sockets and voltage in France shows how to read the rating plate on your appliances.
Closing an Electricity Account
If you are switching suppliers at the same address, your new supplier handles the cancellation for you — there is no fee, no penalty and no service interruption. If you are moving home, you must close the contract at the old address and open a new one at the new address; the same supplier can usually do both in a single call.
To close an account you will need:
- →Your full name;
- →Your customer number (numéro de client);
- →The meter site ID (numéro de point de livraison — PDL);
- →The intended closure date.
You can also use Selectra's free cancellation service, which provides a ready-to-send template letter or handles the closure on your behalf.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is open to competition like electricity. The distribution network is operated by GRDF, but your everyday point of contact is your supplier. Engie (formerly GDF Suez) is the historic gas supplier; since 2023, the regulated gas tariff has been abolished, so all gas contracts are now market offers — comparing them is the only way to get a competitive price.
To open an account for natural gas, call your chosen supplier with the same details as for electricity: your contact information, the address of your new home, the name of the previous occupant and your banking information (IBAN and BIC).
Open the contract at least two weeks before move-in. If the gas was deactivated (typical after six months of vacancy), GRDF will need up to five business days to restart supply.
Billing
Gas bills are issued every two months and estimated on previous consumption, exactly like electricity. Each bill shows a fixed subscription (prix de l'abonnement) and a per-kWh price (prix par kWh) — yes, even though gas is delivered in cubic metres, it is billed in kWh after a conversion based on the calorific value of the gas in your area.
Meter Reading
GRDF reads your meter twice a year and handles all technical issues, including gas leaks. If you have a Gazpar smart meter, readings happen remotely.
For a suspected gas leak, call the GRDF emergency line on 0 800 47 33 33 — free, 24/7.
Closing a Natural Gas Account
The closure process mirrors electricity: a switch is handled by your new supplier, while a move requires you to close the contract at the old address. You can cancel by phone, online or by registered post (lettre recommandée avec avis de réception). The cancellation letter must include your full name and signature, your customer number, the meter PCE (point de comptage et d'estimation) and the closure date.
Selectra's free cancellation service can manage the whole process for you.
Bottled Gas and Propane
Many rural homes are not connected to mains gas and rely on propane tanks instead. Tanks can be rented monthly with the supply, or bought outright after paying a deposit. Bottled gas (Antargaz, Butagaz, Primagaz and others) is sold in 5–35 kg cylinders at petrol stations and supermarkets, and trading an empty bottle for a full one of the same brand is the cheapest way to refill.
Bottled and tank gas are more expensive than mains gas but may be the only option in rural areas. Each brand only accepts its own empty bottles, so stick to a single supplier once you have started.
Water
Mains water in France is supplied through long-term contracts between local communes (mairies) and a small number of private operators. The three biggest are Veolia, Suez (formerly Lyonnaise des Eaux) and Saur. To find out who serves your address, ask your mairie or check the Selectra water directory. Water is billed by cubic metre, with the average French household paying around €4.30 per cubic metre in 2026, price varying widely by commune. (Source: observatoire national des services d'eau (SISPEA).)
Registration
In a flat, you usually do not need to open a water account: water is included in the building's shared charges (charges de copropriété) and metered collectively. In a house, call the local water operator with your contact information, your new address and the name of the previous occupant.
Billing and Sewerage
Water bills are usually issued every six months. The bill includes the water itself, the standing charge and the sewerage charge (assainissement) — the three together cover treatment of both incoming and outgoing water.
Some rural homes are not connected to mains sewerage and rely on individual systems (assainissement non collectif), most often a septic tank (fosse septique). These systems must be inspected periodically by the local SPANC. If you are buying a rural property, the diagnostic of the existing system is mandatory and disclosed at the sale — read it carefully before signing.
Rubbish Collection and Recycling
Rubbish collection is organised by your local mairie, which sets the schedule and the bin colour scheme. You do not open an account for rubbish — the cost is collected through an annual local tax (taxe d'enlèvement des ordures ménagères — TEOM), itself attached to the housing tax for owners or to the rent for tenants.
Recycling has been generalised since the late 1990s and now covers nearly the entire country. Most apartment buildings have at least two bins (general waste and recycling), often supplemented by glass bins on the street. Specific waste streams have dedicated drop-off points: corks at Nicolas wine shops, used batteries at most supermarkets, small electronics at any electronics retailer, and bulky items at the local déchetterie.
Internet and TV
Four telecoms operators share the French market: Orange (formerly France Telecom), SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free. Each sells a "box" bundle combining internet, a fixed line and usually TV, with the option to add a mobile plan at a discount. Fibre is now available to over 90% of homes, and prices on entry-level offers start around €20–25 per month for the first year. (Source: ARCEP — observatoire du très haut débit.)
Signing Up for an Internet Plan
You can subscribe by phone, in a provider's shop or online. Prepare the same documents as for energy — your contact details, banking information (IBAN and BIC) and a piece of ID (passport or visa). The name of the previous occupant is especially useful here, as it speeds up fibre eligibility checks.
Most operators now sell sans engagement (no-commitment) plans — you can cancel any time without penalty. Older 12 or 24-month contracts still exist on some discounted offers. In zones non-dégroupées (rare, mostly very rural), Orange is still the only ADSL operator and other providers must rent the line, which makes their offers more expensive there.
English-Speaking Helpline for Internet
Orange runs a dedicated English line on 09 69 36 39 00, free from a French landline, for sales and account opening. The other operators (SFR, Bouygues, Free) only offer customer service in French — and Selectra's English-speaking team on 09 77 55 72 27 is the practical workaround if you want to sign up with one of them.
Mobile Phones and SIM Cards
French mobile plans are among the cheapest in Europe. The four big operators all sell post-paid plans, alongside a competitive ecosystem of MVNOs (Sosh, RED, B&You, Prixtel and others) on the same networks. Plans with unlimited calls and 100+ GB of data are routinely available for under €15 per month. To sign up, you will need:
- →Your address and contact details;
- →Proof of identification (passport, residence permit or birth certificate);
- →Proof of address (justificatif de domicile): an energy bill from the past three months, a tax bill or a rent receipt (quittance de loyer);
- →Your French banking information (RIB), required for nearly all post-paid plans.
If you have not opened a French bank account yet, prepaid SIM cards from Lycamobile, Lebara or the operators' own prepaid ranges let you have a French number from day one. Our guide on getting a SIM card in France walks through every option.
Useful English-Speaking Numbers
Keep these numbers within reach during your first weeks. All are free to call from a French landline; standard mobile-plan rates apply from a mobile.
112
09 87 67 37 93
09 77 55 72 27
09 69 36 63 83
09 69 36 39 00
09 74 75 36 46
0 800 47 33 33
For the full directory, see our guide to English-speaking helplines in France. And before move-in day, run through this moving-to-France checklist to make sure no utility falls through the cracks.
Setting up utilities in France: frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I set up utilities in France? Read more Close
Aim to open your electricity, gas and internet contracts about two weeks before move-in day. If the home has been empty for more than six months, the energy supply may have been physically cut, and Enedis or GRDF can take up to five business days to restart it.
Can I set up French utilities in English? Read more Close
Yes. EDF (09 69 36 63 83) and Orange (09 69 36 39 00) run their own English lines, and Selectra offers free English-speaking help for energy on 09 87 67 37 93 and for broadband on 09 77 55 72 27. Other suppliers only serve customers in French, so a bilingual helpline is the easiest route.
Do I need a French bank account to open utility contracts? Read more Close
For most contracts, yes: suppliers ask for a French IBAN and BIC to set up the standard direct debit (prélèvement automatique). If you do not have an account yet, a prepaid SIM card lets you get a French mobile number from day one while you sort out your banking.
Do I get to choose my electricity and gas supplier? Read more Close
Yes. Both electricity and gas are fully deregulated, so you can pick any supplier. EDF still offers the regulated electricity tariff (tarif bleu), but alternative suppliers almost always undercut it. The regulated gas tariff was abolished in 2023, so every gas contract is now a market offer.
How do I find out who supplies water at my address? Read more Close
Water is managed locally by your commune, which contracts one of the main operators — usually Veolia, Suez or Saur. Ask your mairie or check the Selectra water directory. In a flat, water is normally included in the building charges, so you rarely open a separate account.
How often do French utility bills arrive? Read more Close
Electricity and gas are billed every two months, estimated from your previous consumption and adjusted after each meter reading. Water is usually billed every six months, and internet or mobile plans are billed monthly.