Subscribing to Utilities and Internet Services in France: Be Prepared, It May Take Longer Than You Think!

By Jay Corless, edited by Adrian Leeds

So you’ve done it. You’ve either bought or rented that adorable apartment in Paris, a sunny home in Nice, or a rustic cottage in Provence. You’ve signed the paperwork, popped a bottle of bubbly, and started dreaming of your new life in France. But then it hits you: the lights don’t work, there’s no hot water, your phone doesn’t have a signal, and you can’t stream Netflix. Welcome to the hidden chapter in French home ownership—setting up your utilities and services.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not fast. And it’s definitely not what you’re used to if you come from North America. But with the correct information—and a lot of patience—you can get through it without losing your mind.

This is a service we offer to our clients and almost everyone is thrilled that we can perform these tasks. But, it’s the most difficult thing we do, and it’s our “Achilles Heel.” It’s the ONE THING we get complaints about. Everything else works like a charm, but setting up a client’s internet service (along with telephone and tv), crucial to their successful transition, is our biggest challenge, and the most frustrating for our clients.

An “Achilles’ heel” is a metaphor for a small, fatal weakness in an otherwise strong person or system, originating from Greek mythology where the hero Achilles was invulnerable except for his heel.

Let’s start with the easy part:

ELECTRICITY AND GAS – EDF, METER READING, AND THAT FUSE BOX

Most properties in France are connected to the national grid via Électricité de France (EDF), the traditional provider of electricity and gas. While alternative providers like Engie, TotalEnergies, and Eni have entered the market recently, EDF is still the most common name.

If you’ve purchased a home…the moment you have the “Acte de Vente” (title deed) in hand, you should start transferring or opening your EDF account.

You’ll need:

1. A copy of your ID or passport
2. Acte de Vente (Proof of ownership)
3. The Point de Livraison (PDL) number for electricity or Point de Comptage (PCE) for gas – both are on the previous bills (if you can get copies from the previous owners)

4. A French bank account with a Relevé d’Identité Bancaire (RIB) for an auto-debit setup
5. A meter reading from the day of your move-in

If the power or gas has been cut off (not uncommon if the property has been empty for some time), Enedis (for electricity) or GRDF (for gas) will have to reconnect the service, which involves an appointment—YES, WITH A TECHNICIAN WHO MAY OR MAY NOT SHOW UP ON TIME (OR AT ALL). Appointments are often given in full-day windows, and sometimes, you’ll be charged for the visit.

Note: Our fee covers up to 4 hours, which is normally enough, but there are always exceptions that could increase costs (for example, when a technician doesn’t show up after we’ve waited all day, or if they run into problems with the installation).If you’re renting…it’s common in France for tenants to be responsible for their utility contracts, even in furnished rentals. If the power is already on, you still need to call and get it transferred into your name to avoid being shut off later. Some landlords or agencies help with this, but many don’t. Always ask before you sign the lease.

This one can be a big challenge, particularly in the South of France:

WATER – LOCALIZED, PAPER-HEAVY, AND EASY TO OVERLOOK

Unlike electricity and gas, water in France is managed locally, unless the building includes it in their homeowner association fees. If not, you’ll need to contact the mairie (municipality) or their contracted provider (often Veolia, Saur, or Suez).

Steps:
1. Visit the mairie or the provider’s website
2. Provide your ID, proof of ownership or lease, and your RIB
3. Submit the current meter reading (in cubic meters, m³)

Water bills are typically sent quarterly or biannually. They are based on actual consumption or estimations, adjusted after annual meter readings.

Watch out for:

1. Old meters: Some older properties don’t have remotely readable meters. You may need to photograph it and send it in.
2. Communal water: In apartments, water is often included in the copropriété fees (building fees), so you may not need to set up a separate contract.
3. Delays: PROCESSING CAN TAKE WEEKS. Follow up if you don’t receive a monthly bill or contract.

And yes, some towns still require written letters or in-person appointments. The 21st century doesn’t move quickly in rural France!

Here’s the biggest hurdle of all:

INTERNET/TV/LANDLINE PHONE AND MOBILE PHONES – WHERE TIME SLOWS TO A CRAWL

You won’t believe how long it can take to get Wi-Fi in France until you experience it. While the country has been pushing fibre (fiber optic) service, don’t expect New York or Toronto–style connectivity overnight.

The “Big Four” providers are:

1. Orange (formerly France Télécom – most widespread)

2. SFR
3. Bouygues Télécom
4. Free

To sign up, you’ll need:

1. Proof of address (utility bill or Acte de Vente/lease)
2. ID or passport, and sometimes your Visa
3. RIB
4. French mobile number (yes, you need a number to get a number—welcome to the paradox!)

We at the Adrian Leeds Group have created 10 different local French phone numbers for the sole purpose of managing all of our clients’ hook-up needs. This helps us facilitate the hook-up on your behalf and then once the installation is complete, we will change the contact information to yours and you’ll be “home free.”

BEWARE! Appointments to install fiber optics can take up to six weeks! It depends on the technician’s availability and whether your building is already wired for fiber optics. And even if it is, that doesn’t mean your unit is wired!

Recently, our utilities specialist reported the following frustrations for a client in Nice:

Feb 2nd – waited 2 1/2 hours (tech never came)
Feb 18th – waited 45 minutes (angry mean technician)
Mar 10th – waited 45 min (nice technician explained about the permission slip from the Syndic)
April 7th – waited 2 1/2 hours (nice technicians finally got the job done)

Permission slip!? That was a first. We’ve never encountered this one before. Even the technician had never run into this problem! Just another example of the frustrations of this process. Sure, we’re prepared for it now—even though it may never come up again.

In this case, we didn’t charge our client for any extra administrative time, only the time required for on-site presence. Still, it’s a hard pill to swallow. We understand that these delays and issues can frustrate a client—we’re frustrated, too! It’s never ideal, but it does happen.

No matter how many times we’ve successfully set up utilities for our clients, from time to time, surprises and snags crop up. It can pose a challenge even for us! Imagine if you had to do this on your own?

If he had tried to do this himself, does anyone believe he would have been more successful? We don’t.

It’s not about a lack of knowledge or experience; it’s quite frankly just life in France. There are four different companies here. Each one operates differently. Each building has its own situation. Therefore, every single hook-up is a new adventure! We’re used to it so we know it takes patience—and not a little tenacity—to navigate through it.

Of course, you can always choose to do the hook-ups on your own; you are not obligated to take advantage of our service—but for those who do hire us, please be prepared that it might not go as smoothly as you think it should. But we will work tirelessly through any issues to ensure your new home is hooked up and ready for you.

This is not something we can possibly know in advance. There are four different companies in France. Each one operates differently. Each building has its own situation. Therefore, every single hook-up is a new adventure. We have ALL gone through it. We have all been frustrated, almost all of the time. Sometimes they surprise us, but one thing for sure, it’s all about the expectations of the client.

You can always choose to do the hook-ups yourselves—you are not obligated to take advantage of our service, but for those who do, be prepared that it might not go as smoothly as you’d like! And if you need someone to blame, blame it on French bureaucracy!

MOBILE PHONES

Mobile phone service is faster to set up. You can walk into any mobile phone shop with a SIM card (called a forfait) on a pay-as-you-go or monthly plan. Some allow foreign credit cards and passports; others don’t.

Temporary solution: Buy a prepaid SIM or a pocket Wi-Fi (router mobile) while waiting for full service. These are available at FNAC, Darty, or most phone stores.

Note: My French cell phone from Free.fr is brilliant! For a whopping €15.99 a month (with my Free.fr internet/tv/phone subscription, or €19.99 a month without that), I have unlimited service to over 100 countries and when I’m traveling in those countries, it’s free and free for calls to France. Calls to outside countries are charged, but this means I can use my French cell phone traveling all over Europe and North America…for FREE!

MAIL FORWARDING AND OFFICIAL POST – DON’T MISS YOUR CARTE DE SEJOUR

Remember to forward your mail when moving in, especially if you’re applying for a visa or residency card. Missing a notification from the “préfecture” can set you back months.

How to set up mail forwarding (réexpédition):

1. Visit La Poste
2. Choose a timeframe (six months, 12 months, etc.)
3. Provide old and new addresses
4. Pay online (starting around €30)

You can’t forward mail retroactively. Mail addressed to a business cannot be sent to a personal address without authorization. For expats, using a domiciliation service (mail collection or forwarding service) during transitions is brilliant.

OTHER SERVICES – TRASH, TV LICENSES, AND TAXES

1. Ordures ménagères (trash collection) is managed locally. It is sometimes billed via the annual “taxe foncière” (property tax), occasionally separately
2. Contribution à l’audiovisuel public (tv license): Previously billed with housing taxes; abolished in 2022, but still referenced in some older paperwork
3. Home insurance: Required for tenants and highly recommended for owners. You’ll need it before signing some leases or even opening utility accounts

FINAL THOUGHTS – WHY A LITTLE HELP GOES A LONG WAY

Yes, it’s complicated, slow, and confusing—even for longtime residents. But you don’t have to do it alone. We can do the heavy lifting, and often get things done faster, thanks to our established relationships with service providers. But it’s important to manage your expectations of “what, how, and when” since things in France don’t always move along a straight line—or with speed.

So, here’s the best advice: DON’T WAIT. The day you have your lease or deed in hand is when you begin making calls, setting appointments, and gathering your documents. The earlier you start, the smoother your move-in will be.

And once everything is connected, humming, and delivered, you’ll sit on your terrace, Wi-Fi-enabled tablet in hand, sipping a glass of Bordeaux, and think…that was worth it.

Because it always is.

A bientôt,