POWER OUTAGE. While we are in the midst of an energy crisis, France could resort to power cuts or even short-term cuts. How do you know if you are going to be affected by a cut? What to do in case of breakdown ? How to find the origin? Which number to contact? Here’s what you need to know.
Will you be affected by a power outage this winter? In times of energy crisis, to avoid facing shortages, the French government is considering several options. First of all, he called, on several occasions, the French and companies to show energy sobriety. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that load shedding will be necessary in the heart of winter.
In detail, targeted power cuts could intervene as a “last resort”. To be more precise, we generally speak of rotating load shedding, i.e. “we cut, [l’électricité] over a short period of less than two hours, per district”, recalled Élisabeth Borne on France Inter, last September. This could be a problem to reach the emergency services.
But what to do in the event of a power outage at home? How to identify the failure? What number to call?
As the winter promises to be harsh and we fear power cuts, Enedis is launching a site on which you can find out if you will be affected by power cuts in the event of an alert on the electrical network. This site will be updated twice a day. Enedis would like to point out, however, that “this information is indicative forecasts which may change”. To find out if your address is affected by a cut, enter your address below.
Who do I report a power outage to? How to know the origin of a cut? How do I know when power will be restored? How do I bring in a technician? The reporting of a power outage and, well beyond, the search for information on a power outage goes through several channels.
EDF- To report a breakdown or a power outage, you must contact your electricity supplier, in particular EDF. By telephone, an adviser can be reached from Monday to Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., on: 09 69 32 15 15 (price of a local call). Forms are also available by Internet, on the EDF website. In particular, it is possible to make a request or a complaint online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, thanks to a EDF form. In physics or in store, it is also possible to meet an EDF adviser. The list of places is available on theEDF & ME app. Finally, by mailEDF can be reached at the following address: EDF Service Clients / TSA – 20012 / 41975 Blois Cedex 9.
Enedis- In the event of a breakdown or outage, Enedis (formerly ERDF) must generally be contacted. This EDF subsidiary is in charge of the electricity distribution network. By telephone, you must call an Enedis breakdown number which changes according to the department. Dial 09 726 750 XX, replacing the XX with the department number concerned (price of a local call). A telephone number also appears on the energy bills sent by each supplier (an operator answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – free call from a landline). On the InternetEnedis can be reached via a contact page. On Twitter, it is possible to ask questions to the @enedis_clients account.
Finally, Enedis launched several years ago the “Enedis by my side” app, available for free on iOS, Android and Windows Phone platforms. After geolocation or entering a postal code, the user can find out if a power failure has occurred in the area. The app then indicates a planned time for the return of electricity. A guide lets you know where to go in the event of a power outage or electrical problem. If necessary, it is possible to be put in contact with a technician. Many other services are offered, from the request for connection to the network to a request for pruning through safety advice in the event of work.
TEN – This other EDF subsidiary which manages the electricity transmission network has also launched a new citizen alert system. The ECO2mix app informs users in the event of a particularly tense situation. She invites them to reduce the risk of power cuts during peak hours (8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.).
- EDF (customer service): 09 69 32 15 15
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (price of a local call)
- Enedis (breakdown service) : 09 726 750 XX
replace the XX with your department number (price of a local call)
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Identify the failure – In the event of a power outage, to determine whether it is a localized or more general failure, EDF first advises its customers to check whether their neighbors are also without electricity. If this is the case, it is a power failure which will require intervention by Enedis. EDF specifies that it is necessary to ensure that you have signed a contract with an energy supplier and that you are up to date with the payment of your bills. Another basic prerequisite: check that the circuit breaker is in the “on” position. You can also visit the site cuts.enedis.fr to check in just a few clicks where the power cut comes from (breakdown at home or on the electrical network). To do this, you just have to enter your address and let yourself be guided to make the diagnosis.
Solve a household breakdown – If the circuit breaker has tripped, it is most likely due to a malfunction in your home alone. If it jumps on restart, it is likely that one of your appliances is causing it to trip (toaster for example). If you have just used an electrical appliance, unplug it and try the operation again. The device in question can be tested on other sockets to find out if it is faulty (or if the original socket is faulty). To identify the origin of the breakdown if it is confined to your accommodation, lower all the circuit breakers of your electrical panel, restart the circuit breaker and reset them one by one. In any case, before checking the proper functioning of an electrical panel, it is advisable to call an electrician.
Unplug or protect your devices – A power outage can damage your electrical appliances. It is possible to protect them by disconnecting them if this failure is programmed or foreseeable. All devices are potentially concerned, starting with televisions, computers, decoders… It is possible to install an alarm on the most sensitive devices, a box that will send an SMS to the user in the event of a power failure, remotely . The device goes all the way to connected devices, which can be managed remotely. Installing a UPS also protects electronic devices. The principle is simple: in the event of a breakdown, the inverter immediately switches to a backup battery.
Everyone can contribute, through small gestures, to reducing electricity consumption in France and therefore to avoiding a power outage. Two times during the day are particularly critical: between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. and then between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. TEN recalls on its site the actions to be taken to participate in the general effort. Thus, at home, it is recommended not to leave any appliance on standby, to limit the number of lights on, to lower the temperature of the heaters by 1 to 2 degrees (especially when you are away) or to use the appliances appliances during off-peak hours. At the office, remember to completely turn off your computer and your screen when you leave (you can also reduce the brightness during the day). And only use the printer if necessary.
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In addition to its off-peak tariffs, EDF has tried to set up options to encourage its users to be more economical on days of peak electricity consumption. The Tempo option was quickly abandoned, but the “Erasing peak day” option, or EJP, if it is no longer offered, is still used by several thousand consumers (1% of subscribers). The principle is simple: the kWh rate is generally more advantageous 343 days a year, but EDF reserves the right to significantly increase the rate for 22 days, between November 1 and March 31. In the event of tension on the network, EJP subscribers are therefore, in fact, on the front line.
Generally, EJP subscribers are notified of a price increase the day before the day of peak consumption, via their meter, an email or SMS alert, via the Internet or via a mobile app. But EJP also provides, in some cases, the disconnection of certain machines from the network to reduce consumption. An operation which is however made possible only if the subscriber has an autonomous production device that can take over.