What are the differences between RTE and Enedis?

The energy sector is driven by a large number of players. Since the decision of liberalize the electricity market was taken by the French State in the 2000s, these actors are more numerous.

However, a few are constantly in the spotlight and sometimes under the fire of criticism. This is in particular due to their importance on the market. This is the case of RTE and Enedis. So what are the differences between the two?

RTE: the French electricity network operator

RTE stands for “Electricity Transport Network”. Its role is to transport electricity in the electrical system in France.

It is a limited company created on the 1^Er July 2000 to manage the public electricity transmission network throughout France. She is responsible for maintaining, developing andoperate approximately 105,000 km of power lines in France. They are high, even very high voltage lines.

RTE is in fact the former transport service of EDF (Electrectricity de France). Forced to part ways with RTE in August 2004 due to the emergence of the European electricity market, EDF Still remains themajority shareholder of the company.

It was from January 2012 that the term “RTE” was adopted instead of “RTE EDF Transport”. This change is an indicator of the will of the public authorities to make this company the national operator of the public electricity network.

Enedis: an electricity distributor, a subsidiary of EDF

The term “Enedis” is a contraction of the words “energy” and “distribution”. It is a company responsible for the distribution of energy delivered by production plants.

Unlike RTE, it is a subsidiary of EDF in its entirety. Originally, the company was called ErdF (Électricity Réseau Distribution France) and took on its current name in 2016.

The role of Enedis is to transport electrical current to consumers' buildings. The company covers more than 95% of French territory. The remaining portion is left to ELD (Local Distribution Companies).

Enedis circulates low voltage current, which is a considerable difference with the company RTE. In reality, this company is RTE's main customer. Enedis must therefore deliver the electricity it sends to homes and businesses to RTE, which, in turn, obtains it from nuclear, hydraulic, thermal power plants, wind farms, photovoltaic farms, etc.

Energy suppliers use Enedis in order to satisfy the energy needs of their customers. You can change suppliers but not distributors.

RTE's missions

As you will have understood, RTE and Enedis are not opposing each other on marketplace. The two companies are in fact partners. However, there are many differences in their missions.

RTE, for its part, manages electrical networks through an interconnected network. In this sense, the company installs and maintains power lines. Its mission is to modernizing electrical systems and to adapt them to changes in the energy sector.

For example, RTE is giving greater priority to solar panel farms and wind farms in order to promote the energy transition. The structure also has a look at market trends and the demands of end customers. It is tasked with regulating prices at its own level. It takes the side of energy producers offering the cheapest rates, which is beneficial for consumers.

In his role as electricity network manager, RTE establishes the link between the producer and the electricity supplier through the distributor. It is naturally less close to consumers than Enedis.

Enedis's fields of intervention and obligations

Enedis intervenes on various levels for ensure the distribution of electricity in households and businesses in France. The company installs and maintains low voltage power lines. Moreover, it is she who delivers the electricity meters and takes care of all the related interventions.

To connect a meter to your building, you must therefore use the company Enedis. She will give you the estimate for the intervention, the expected deadlines and the total cost of the installation work.

For the connection of a meter in a new building, Enedis satisfies the applicant in a Average time of 10 working days. This duration is divided by two when the installation must be done in an old building.

After installing the device, you will have to contact an electricity supplier for the power supply with, in support, the Consul certificate (proving the compliance of the installation with regulations). You can thus choose an alternative supplier to the historical supplier that is EDF.

Enedis also has the function of modernising its installations. With this in mind, for example, in 2015, it launched the installation of Communicating meter named Linky replacing the old model. If you contact your electricity supplier for Change the power or turn off your meter, he will have to use Enedis (except if he receives his energy from an EDL). In turn, Enedis will send one of its agents to the field to solve the problem.

Enedis has an obligation to provide electricity to anyone who needs it and who requests it, whether in urban or rural areas. Despite the complexity and the high cost of the operation, the company must carry it out in order to meet the principle of non-discrimination that it must respect in its activities. It is also subject to compliance with standards in order to ensure the quality of its service.

Enedis must take the necessary measures to maintain the functioning of its distribution networks despite the climatic conditions.

As you will have understood, RTE and Enedis are two companies with a common origin, but with different legal structures. Both providers of public services, their roles are not the same although their goals converge somewhat. In case you want to know how the two structures are financed, know that they are similar in this respect.

The RTE network like that of Enedis are, in fact, for the most part paid through the TURPE (Tariff for the Use of Public Electricity Networks) .

To go further, do not hesitate to read our article on the differences between EDF and Enedis.

Did you know that?

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