TLDR: Setting up electricity just takes a few steps, but you need to make sure you’re prepared with your usage data and billing information. This process can be challenging if you do not speak French, so don’t be afraid to ask for help!
One of the least glamorous parts of moving to France is having to figure out your utilities. We will be the first to say that this process in France is 10x harder if you do not speak French. Working with utilities in any country is difficult, so the language barrier was tough for us. That being said, having working electricity is a necessity, so we were forced to figure it out! Hopefully our advice will make your process much easier!
How do I choose my energy provider?
If you’re like us, we didn’t have a choice. When you’re renting an apartment, this sort of thing has already been established and it’s just up to you to make an account, set up payment, and request service. If you’re curious to learn about the different energy providers and their benefits, this article is helpful.
I’ve chosen my energy provider, what is next?
If you’re ready to move into your apartment, you’ll need to make sure you’ve not only chosen your energy provider, but you have ensured service by the time you arrive. For us, this was all a part of the contracting process with our rental agency. Depending on your provider, you can either call or set up service online. Before calling or setting up service online, you will need to make sure you have the usage data in kWh to provide on the spot. This information can be found on the actual meter that should be attached to your apartment. The energy provider needs the usage data, because this is how they will determine your charge bracket.
Once you have determined the usage data, you are ready to set up your account. Over the phone they will ask you to provide the apartment address, start date, usage data, and billing information. You can provide your billing information over the phone and request automatic deposits moving forward. Once you have set up your account, they will send a confirmation email and you should be all set!
What if I don’t speak French and everything is in French?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! If you are working with a rental agency or with the owner of the apartment, ask them to help you with this phone call. They can either help get an English speaking customer service representative on the phone, or they can translate the conversation for you. It should only take about 10 minutes to set everything up over the phone, so it’s not a huge ask!
If you’d rather handle everything online, you can use DeepL to translate. We’ve found that this is the best service for an accurate translation. The best part is you can scan text directly on your phone, or even upload a copy of your contract! This will be especially helpful when setting up your energy services, because all of the bills and contracts will be in French.