GrDF: its history, missions and services

In the gas sector, European regulations require the separation of certain activities. Since the production of this fossil energy until it is delivered to the homes of end consumers (in France), there are 5 stakeholders. There are producers, storage operators, The suppliers, transmission system operators and, finally, distribution system operators.

In the past, the function of the supplier and that of the final distributor could be carried out by the same company. However, this has not been possible since the opening of the electricity and gas market to competition in 2007.

This is how GRDF (Gaz Réseau Distribution France) was created on 1^Er January 2008 to ensure the delivery of natural gas to French households. SirEnergies introduces you here to the history, missions, services and details about the GRDF distribution network.

Who is GRDF?

In the gas sector, GRDF takes care of the distribution of energy up to the address of the final consumer. It can be a household, a convenience store, a café, a restaurant, or a business. GRDF is affiliated with Engie, but its services go to all gas suppliers in France. They benefit from the same service and under the same conditions (transport contract and non-discriminatory rights of way) to ensure the transparency, fairness and efficiency of the market.

A bit of history

Before 1946, many companies shared the gas market in France. They merged at the end of the war to become GDF (Gaz de France). This company maintained a monopoly on the market for many years. She was in charge of both the marketing and the distribution of natural gas.

The first stage of market liberalization took place between 1999 and 2004. Businesses and industries, which consumed over 100 GWh of gas per year, now had the option of choosing their own supplier.

The opening to competition in the retail market took place on 1^Er July 2007. Separating supplier and distributor activities was an important choice to create a good competitive environment. A supplier that could also ensure distribution would have had a great advantage over its competitors, which would not be favourable to market balance.

After the creation of GRDF, GDF merged with Suez and became the GDF Suez group, natural gas supplier. The company then changed its name in 2015 to become Engie.

The missions of GRDF

The company GRDF has set itself a mission, that of allowing the majority of French people to benefit from efficient and reliable energy at the best cost. Its long-term vision is to guarantee future generations the possibility of accessing renewable energy and safe.

For this, she works for the decarbonization of gas and for the development of the “new gases” production sector. GRDF's actions are focused on a sustainable methanization model and on the transformation of the network in order to make it compatible with new renewable gases.

To fulfill his missions within the company, the distribution network manager pays particular attention to each of his customers. He makes sure to guarantee them availability, reliability, security and flexibility in his services. GRDF is also based on the skills of energy suppliers to guarantee optimal operational performance for its distribution network.

What are the services offered by GRDF?

The distribution of gas in France falls within the field of public services. To do this, the company GRDF must carry out its missions in compliance with the regulations in force. The company also performs its functions under the supervision of the State, local authorities and the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE).

In addition to that, GRDF does not own the network that it operates. Each local authority maintains ownership of its network and entrusts its management to the distribution company.

As distribution network manager, GRDF's service is to ensure the arrival of gas to the consumer's home, home or business. The company is also responsible for measuring energy consumption and surveillance of the network for guarantee the continuity of the service. GRDF takes care of The interview And of The expansion of the network. She is also in charge of Hookup new customers.

In addition to meter readings and network connections, the distribution system operator takes care of opening meters after a move. It takes care of emergencies, repairs and the deployment of the Gazpar meter in France.

Focus on the network operated by GRDF

The company GRDF is the main manager of the distribution network in France. This one covers up to 95% of the territory.

Size of the distribution network in France

The natural gas distribution network managed by GRDF in France is nearly 200,715 km long. The latter arises at the level of the transport network and covers almost the entire territory to serve the greatest number of French people. This network covers more than 9,500 French municipalities. The rest of the country (5%) that is not covered by the GRDF distribution network is served by local distribution companies (LED).

Safety of the natural gas distribution network in France

GRDF invests enormously to ensure the safety of the natural gas distribution network in France. The company works every day to modernize the network and to carry out maintenance and troubleshooting work on the network. Because of the danger posed by gas in the event of a leak, the network is constantly monitored regularly. The manager checks the tightness of the installations.

To do this, its teams are equipped with network monitoring vehicles (VERSE). These devices are able to detect the presence of a tiny particle of methane in the air. In areas where vehicles cannot carry out checks, technicians monitor them on foot and using geolocated detection devices. GRDF teams check the watertightness of installations on 75,000 km of network each year.

Public works or works carried out by third parties near distribution infrastructures expose the network to great risks of damage. To minimize them, GRDF has implemented numerous procedures. It contributes to the modernization of regulations on the carrying out of works near networks. The gas distributor also organizes awareness-raising events and participates in the training of public works agents in the prevention of damage to structures.

The role of GRDF in the ecological transition

GRDF has always affirmed its ambition to guarantee future-proof, renewable and safe energy for future generations. To do this, the company has carried out numerous actions for the benefit of energy transition. It also offers ecological energy products such as green gas, bioNGV and CNG.

Green gas

Non-fossil renewable energy, the green gas is obtained from 3 processes: methanization, pyrogasification and Power-to-gas. Biogas helps to significantly reduce our carbon footprint. In fact, for methanization, producers use local waste. The energy produced is also consumed locally, which contributes to waste management and ecological transition.

The pyrogasification process consists in heating the waste to a temperature that exceeds 1000°C. However, this is done with a small amount of oxygen, which reduces the emission of CO₂ during the production process of biomethane.

Power-to-gas makes it possible to produce Hydrogen by electrolysis of water. This hydrogen is then combined with CO₂ through the methanation process. At the end of synthetic methane, we obtain an efficient, reliable and, above all, renewable energy source.

BioNGV/CNG

BioNGV (Bio Natural Gas Vehicle) and CNG (Natural Gas Vehicle) are ecological fuels that are low in pollution. BioNGV, which is a renewable version of CNG, is obtained by fermenting organic waste collected in France.

This fuel offers good autonomy for compatible vehicles. CNG and bioNGV are cheaper and emit up to 80% of CO₂ less than diesel. Their fine particle emission is 95% less than other fuels.

Communicating gas meters

To help customers better control their energy consumption, GRDF has set up an installation campaign of communicating gas meters from 2016. These smart meters have functionalities that offer the possibility of using gas in a responsible and more sustainable way. They allow consumers to access their usage data on a daily basis. Each customer can share their information with their supplier to benefit from support in controlling gas consumption.

This approach contributes to the achievement of sustainable development goals and also helps the customer to make significant savings.

SirEnergies also supports companies in this context to help them optimize their energy costs. After an analysis of your consumption habits, we make recommendations to encourage you to consume less while maintaining the same level of activity.

Businesses: how to contact GRDF?

On its platform, GRDF has reserved a space specially for companies. You can access it directly at the top of the page by choosing the “businesses” option among the various categories that will be offered to you on the site.

You can also do it at the footer level of the page (at the bottom of the page). You then access a chat window that allows you to contact GRDF according to your needs. You can also call customer service or ask to be contacted in return.

In the gas sector, GRDF is the last player in the distribution chain. The company manages the delivery network that serves 95% of France. It ensures a fair service for all suppliers on the market and is also committed to the ecological transition alongside them. Will they be able to switch entirely to green gas in the years to come?

To go further, do not hesitate to consult our article on The differences between GRDF and GRTgaz.