Setting Up Utilities in France: A Beginner’s Guide

Theme: Packing Up and Landing Smooth — written by your friendly relocation coach

Moving to France is equal parts dreamy croissants and bureaucratic croak. Before you can Instagram that perfect pain au chocolat, you’ll need electricity to power the coffee machine, a working boiler for hot showers, and Wi-Fi to reassure family you have, in fact, survived Charles de Gaulle Airport.

In the 300+ relocation plans I’ve crafted for new arrivals, “How do I set up utilities?” ranks in the top three pain points. The good news? Once you know the sequence, gathering the right documents and choosing suppliers is perfectly doable—yes, even if your French vocabulary currently maxes out at “bonjour” and “fromage.”

Below is the exact roadmap I share with coaching clients, broken into:

1. A pre-move preparation checklist
2. Arrival week must-dos
3. Budgeting tips for that cash-sensitive first month
4. Handy tools and local resources

Ready? Let’s flip the switch on your French adventure.

1. Pre-Move Preparation Checklist

Think of this stage as mise en place—the French cooking term for gathering and prepping ingredients before the heat is on. Do the same for utilities and you’ll save yourself frantic calls to overseas hotlines at 11 p.m.

1.1 Gather the “Big Four” Documents

Most French utility suppliers (EDF, Engie, Veolia, SFR, etc.) will request:

1. Proof of identity
   • Passport or EU national ID card
2. Proof of address
   • Signed rental contract or compromis de vente if you bought
3. French bank details (Relevé d’Identité Bancaire, a.k.a. RIB)
4. Meter readings (if you’re taking over an existing connection)

Pro tip: If your French bank account isn’t open yet, some providers accept an IBAN from another SEPA country. Call first to confirm—20 minutes of hold music is better than a bounced direct debit.

1.2 Decide: Short-Term vs. Long-Term Housing

Your utility approach hinges on whether you’re:

• In a furnished short-term rental (3–12 months)
• Signing a classic bail de location (12 months+)
• Purchasing property

If you’re still weighing the merits, our guide on Rent vs Buy When You First Land Abroad breaks down the math and the admin for each scenario.

1.3 Create a “Utility Cheat Sheet”

I ask clients to jot the following in a single doc—cloud-stored, shareable with partners or housemates:

• Full address (including floor and door code)
• Move-in date
• Landlord or seller contact
• Preferred connection dates
• French phone number (once you have it)

When service reps inevitably ask for one of these, you’ll answer in seconds instead of nervously scrolling e-mails.

2. Arrival Week Must-Dos

Bienvenue ! You’ve landed, collected keys and inhaled your first bakery smell. Time to action the plan while momentum is high and jet lag hasn’t fully set in.

2.1 Electricity (Électricité)

• Main players: EDF (historic supplier), Engie, TotalEnergies, Happ-e, Ohm Énergie.
• Lead time: 2–5 working days for a standard activation if the line is live; 5–10 if a technician visit is needed.

How to set up:

1. Call or sign up online with your chosen supplier.
2. Provide meter number (numéro de PDL for Linky smart meters) and current reading.
3. Schedule activation date.
4. Decide on tariff: regulated rate (tarif réglementé) vs. market-based offers.

Call-out: For a typical 60 m² Paris apartment, expect a monthly standing charge of ~€10 and usage of 2,500 kWh/year. At current regulated rates, that’s about €55/month.

2.2 Gas (Gaz)

If your heating and hot water run on gas:

• Suppliers: Engie (formerly GDF Suez), Eni, TotalEnergies, ekWateur.
• Lead time is similar to electricity; simultaneous appointments are possible.

Same process: meter reading, address, RIB. If your property uses bottled gas, arrange delivery with local vendors or supermarkets.

2.3 Water (Eau)

Water is usually managed by a municipal company (Veolia, Suez Eau, Saur). Landlords often transfer the contract on your behalf, but confirm—nothing worse than discovering the robinet is dry after a long haul.

Action steps:

1. Locate your water meter (basement, hallway or curb).
2. Snap a photo of the reading.
3. Submit it via the provided online portal or phone.

Tip: Some cities like Paris bundle water in condo fees (charges de copropriété). Check your lease before opening a separate account.

2.4 Internet & Mobile (Internet et Mobile)

France offers fiber speeds up to 2 Gbps in major cities. Providers: Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Free.

• Fiber vs. ADSL: Enter your address on provider sites to see what’s available.
• Typical price: €29–€45/month including landline calls to 100+ countries.
• Installation: 2–3 weeks average if fiber hasn’t been pulled to your unit; can be 48 hours for ADSL on an existing line.

Mobile SIM: You can walk into any tobacconist and pick up a prepaid SIM from La Poste Mobile or Lycamobile within minutes—handy while waiting on a full contract. Plans start at €10 for 40 GB (yes, really).

3. Budgeting Tips for the First Month

Moving costs stack up: agency fees, deposits, IKEA runs, baguette testing (a legitimate line item, trust me). Utilities are often underestimated. Let’s run the numbers so your bank account doesn’t stage a protest.

3.1 One-Off Fees

• Electricity/gas activation: €20–€60 each, charged on your first bill.
• Internet box deposit: ~€50 (refundable on return).
• Fiber installation: Often free during promos; otherwise €100–€150.
• Security deposit for gas bottles (if rural): €30–€40.

3.2 Monthly Running Costs (Typical Couple, 65 m²)

Total: €130–€210/month, with winter heating the key variable.

3.3 Cash-Flow Hack: Align Billing Dates

Most providers let you choose the draft date. I advise clients to stack them around payday—say the 2nd or 3rd of the month—so you see a single “utilities hit” and can track expenses easily.

4. Tools and Local Resources

4.1 Comparison Sites

• Hello Watt: side-by-side electricity/gas offers, in English.
• Que Choisir: consumer association with annual supplier rankings.
• Ariase: fiber vs. ADSL availability map.

4.2 Glossary Cheat Sheet

Print or save this table. Even minimal French will impress call-center reps and can shave minutes off the interaction.

4.3 People Power: Expat Groups

Search “Expats in ___” on Facebook or Meetup for your city. You’ll find threads on the newest low-cost internet deals or which EDF phone menu shortcut skips the robot voice. One of my clients—hi, Alyssa!—saved €120/year on her gas plan simply by asking in a Lyon group.

If you’re balancing family logistics on top of the move, I recommend our candid interview series on Digital Nomad Moms Balancing Work, Travel & Kids. Plenty of tips on juggling bath time with bureaucratic phone calls.

5. Frequently Asked (and Slightly Panicked) Questions

5.1 “The power’s on, but the previous tenant’s name is still on the bill. Help!”

Call your chosen supplier within 15 days of move-in, give the meter reading from your arrival day, and open a new contract. The old account will be closed retroactively. You won’t be liable for energy you didn’t use.

5.2 “Do I need to be home for the technician?”

• Linky smart meters often activate remotely.
• Gas sometimes requires a person (you or a friend) present to relight the boiler.
• Fiber installation definitely needs access—plan for a 4-hour window and coffee.

5.3 “Can I stay on my foreign phone plan?”

Roam-like-at-home rules in the EU make it tempting, but if you’re staying beyond 3–4 months you’ll breach fair-use policies and speeds get throttled. A €10 French SIM is cheaper and will let utility companies send you the SMS codes they adore.

5.4 “Is home insurance mandatory?”

Yes, for renters it is (assurance habitation). Most electricity suppliers conveniently bundle a basic policy for €5–€8/month. You’ll need a certificate before key hand-over.

6. My Relocation Coach Wrap-Up

Setting up utilities in France isn’t a romantic Eiffel-Tower moment, but it’s the backbone of feeling truly installé.

Follow the mise-en-place:

1. Collate documents before departure.
2. Tackle electricity and gas by day 3 after arrival.
3. Book fiber early; enjoy YouTube baguette tutorials without buffering.
4. Track the budget—winter bills can bite harder than a Breton wind.

Remember, every bureaucratic hoop jumped is one step closer to sipping Chablis in a fully lit, toasty, and well-connected living room.

Need a personalised timeline—plus translations of those pesky EDF e-mails? BorderPilot’s free relocation planner auto-generates supplier checklists and reminds you when that first meter read is due. Give it a whirl and land smooth.