What are the differences between EDF and Enedis?

EDF and Enedis (ex-ERDF) are two very distinct entities on the electrical energy market in France.

Although they belong to the same group and work closely together, they are entirely Independents one from the other and each has specific activities in this sector: EDF is a producer and electricity supplier And Enedis the distribution system operator.

But in concrete terms, what are their respective roles? What are the origins of the confusion that exists between these two companies?

In this article, SirEnergies gives you all the keys to stop confusing these two entities.

Understand how the electricity distribution network works

To fully understand the respective missions of EDF and Enedis, it is first necessary to fully understand how the electricity distribution model works in France:

• the Producer is responsible for producing electricity
• the Transporter (RTE) takes care of transporting electrons to the distribution network on high-voltage lines
• the Distributor (Enedis) delivers these electrons to the consumer on medium and low voltage lines
• The Suppliers, of which EDF is a member, market electricity to consumers, whether individuals or professionals
  

EDF, historical electricity producer and supplier

Initially created on April 8, 1946 (following the bill on the nationalization of gas and electricity), EDF is the historical producer and supplier of electrical energy in France. It has more than 160,000 employees around the world.

EDF's missions are diverse:

• Electricity production through its energy mix (nuclear, renewable energies including hydraulics, combined gas cycle) and cogeneration)
• Historic electricity supplier offering offers at state-regulated rates
• Alternative gas supplier, offering market offers (like its competitors, including: GazelEnergie or ENI).

In France, EDF's energy mix is composed as follows:

• 88% ofnuclear energy
• 9% renewable energies including hydraulic
• 2% of the combined gas and cogeneration cycle
• 1% fossil fuels (fuel oil and coal)

As we can see, EDF plays an important role in the development of nuclear energy in France, which accounts for three quarters of the electricity produced to date. Its fleet consists of 56 reactors at various power levels spread throughout France.

Its main challenge today is to accelerate its development of renewable energies (wind, solar, hydraulic, biomass, geothermal energy...), EDF also intends to double its renewable energy production capacity by 2030.

Enedis, the electricity distribution network operator

Enedis is a subsidiary Independent of the EDF group since 2008, in charge of the management and development of electricity distribution network frenchmen. In the past, Enedis was better known under the name ERDF.

The main ones missions from Enedis are the following:

• Manage the French electricity distribution network (connection, maintenance, development and modernization)
• Anticipating power outages in the face of climate hazards
• Manage the delivery of electricity to French households and ensure its quality
• Reading the electricity meters of consumers who do not have a Linky smart meter
• Guarantee solidarity between territories thanks to TURPE (Tariff for the Use of the Public Electricity Network)

At the dawn of the energy transition, Enedis is also facing several dares :

• Supporting consumers in their approach self-production and self-consumption of energy
• Increase the share of green and renewable energies to be injected into the French distribution network
• Ensuring the change of new Linky smart meters allowing consumers better control of their consumption data and, ultimately, to save money on their energy bill

Why did ERDF become Enedis?

In order to avoid any risk of favoritism and confusion, the CRE (Commission for Energy Regulation) forced ERDF to change its name. This is how the name “Enedis” was adopted on May 31, 2016.

This name change has several goals:

• Better dissociate EDF and Enedis in the collective unconscious
• Promote the normal development of concurrency
• Put an end to the previous monopoly that existed
• Respond fairly to the requests of various suppliers, without giving priority to the parent company EDF

However, it is important to point out that Enedis does not serve the interests of its parent company. It carries out its various activities in an impartial and neutral manner for all consumers served by the national electricity network.

Understand why confusion still exists today

Even today, in the collective subconscious of many consumers, EDF and Enedis are one and the same entity.

This can be understood on the one hand for obvious reasons of name (we saw earlier that Enedis was formerly called ERDF), and on the other hand by the weight of EDF on the electricity market.

If we could draw an analogy concerning their differences and their respective roles on the French market, we could easily make the comparison with the road network where:

• ENEDIS would represent the departmental and communal road network
• RTE would represent the highway and national network
• EDF would represent the motorists who drive on these networks

To go further, read our article to find out The differences between RTE and Enedis.

Did you know that?

One overrun of subscribed power occurs when the power requested from the network is greater than the power subscribed to.
In an individual, the meter goes out immediately when it is exceeded. For a company (excluding C5), the meter does not break. Imagine if a worker was under a 27-ton electromagnetic press at that moment...
SirEnergies helps you optimizing, to visualize and to change the power subscribed to your meter using Enedis and your supplier. Optimizing these network rates represents an opportunity to reducing your electricity bill and prevents you from paying unnecessary financial penalties.
Click below for more information:

Solution: Optimization of subscribed powers