This French Life

Author: Craig McGinty

  • EDF’s English language helpline

    Desk lamp bulb and wall light
    IF you need to contact EDF (Électricité de France) fortunately there is an English language helpline to answer your questions and offer advice on the service.

    The service can help if you have questions about your energy consumption, if you want to change the power of your service, provide a meter reading or are in the process of moving house.

    The number +33 (0)9 69 36 63 83 is available for people throughout France, and is open from Monday to Friday, 8h to 18h.

    It is the price of a local call when in France, but you may face additional charges if calling from overseas.

    There is also an email address you can send enquiries to: simpleenergywithedf@edf.fr

    A postal address is also available: EDF Service Clients, TSA 21941, 62978 ARRAS CEDEX

    Naturally there is a French language helpline, that is 3004 and is a free call number open from Monday to Saturday between 8h and 20h.

    If you are happy to use the EDF website and have set up an online account then you can contact customer service through this, as well as get advice and billing information.

    Emergency telephone numbers

    A key thing to remember is that should you require emergency assistance then you need to go through ENEDIS for electricity or GRDF for gas emergencies.

    ENEDIS electricity emergency number: 09 726 750 XX
    (with the XX replaced by the number of your département so, for example, 24 if you live in the Dordogne).

    GRDF gas emergency number: 0 800 47 33 33

    Edf website featuring garden cooking

    Moving house with EDF

    If you are moving house and need to sign up to an electricity or gas contract at the new property, then EDF asks that you have certain information to hand.

    Moving in date

    If you have a date for moving in then you can contact EDF from between six weeks and seven days before moving in, which should mean you reduce the risk of being cut off from any services.

    PDL and PCE readings

    For your new address you will need the PDL and PCE numbers, but what are these?

    They are the identification numbers found on the electricity and gas meters installed in the property.

    The PDL number corresponds to the electricity meter and the PCE is for the gas meter.

    Each number is composed of 14 digits and can usually be found on the bill of the previous occupier, so either ask for it directly or make sure estate agent is able to get hold of a copy.

    Meter reading

    Again your estate agent, or immobilier, should be able to provide you with the most recent reading or make sure it is on you list of questions to ask.

    Property details

    You will be asked to provide some information about the new property you are planning to move into, covering issues such as how it is heated, your hot water and cooking equipment, as well as the size in square metres of your home.

    Bank details

    To set up bank details to pay for your electricity or gas bills you will need to provide a RIB.

  • Smoke from Gironde fires spreads over the Dordogne

    Smoke from Gironde forest fires seen in Dordogne valley
    SMOKE from the Gironde fires near Arcachon has spread across the Dordogne and other départements this morning, 19 July 2022.

    The Dordogne préfecture has issued a press release saying that the smell of smoke is hanging in the air in many areas of the département, and I’ve been contacted by people in the Charente who have also woken this morning to the smoke.

    Dordogne préfecture press release
    The authorities say that there is no risk to health, but advise people to wear a mask if necessary and to keep windows closed if they have respiratory issues caused by the smoke.

    They are also asking people not to call the emergency services, as they can cause telephone lines to be engaged and so block real emergency calls from getting through.

    Smoke cloud across Dordogne and south west

    Weather service La Chaîne Météo has also produced a map of France showing a forecast of the air quality across the country, with the plume of smoke coming from the Gironde clearly visible as it spreads over neighbouring départements.

    Again to give you an idea of the area covered by the smoke from the forest fires, the distance between Bordeaux and Toulouse is around 250 km.

    Storms and rain are forecast for this corner of south west France this evening, whether it will be enough to help in the fight against the fires in the Gironde will remain to be seen.

  • Dordogne placed under ‘risque sévère’ for forest fires

    Sunshine over Dordogne field
    THE Dordogne préfecture has placed the département under a ‘risque sévère’ warning for forest fires, asking people to take real care in the woods of the region.

    With little rain over the past few weeks, little forecast in the near future, and with temperatures hovering around 40C, the woods and forests of the Dordogne are very dry.

    A small forest fire broke out in the north of the département near Brantôme on 16 July, 2022, whilst two large fires in the neighbouring Gironde has seen 14,000 people evacuated from campsites and properties.

    Update 10 August, 2022: Forest fires have broken out in the Dordogne in recent days, but swift action by the pompiers has seen them brought under control.

    Now the Dordogne préfecture has announced the ‘risque sévère’ warning saying that the public can still visit wooded areas, but to take extra precautions and calling upon people to be responsible to protect the natural environment.

    Restrictions put in place

    No fires should be started, including BBQs, and people should not smoke in the woods. Also fireworks are banned, both public and private events.

    Flammable materials should not be dumped in wooded areas, plus work and tools that might produce sparks should not be undertaken, whilst any incineration or controlled burning is also banned.

    If you are close to the start of a fire call 112 or 18 and provide an exact location.

    On the morning of Tuesday 19 July, 2022, many people in the Dordogne have woken to smoke from the fires hanging in the air of the département.

    Below is the press release announcing the ‘risque sévère’ warning for the Dordogne.

    Dordogne fires warning

  • Forest fire risk warnings stepped up

    Pompiers stood beside fire engine watering down fire
    AS two forest fires rage to the south and east of Arcachon, in south west France, the authorities are stepping up their campaign to cut the risk of people accidentally starting a fire.

    The two fires in the Gironde have seen around 10,000 hectares of forest burnt, called upon the tireless work of more than 1,000 pompiers and seen 14,000 people evacuated from campsites and properties.

    To give you an idea of the total area currently burning, the main town of Périgueux here in the Dordogne, home to the préfecture covers an area of just under 1,000 hectares.

    Government ministers have visited the south west and despite the efforts of pompiers and Canadair aircraft to drop water on the area, the risk is still high and the fires are not under control.

    The Dordogne has also been placed under a severe risk warning of forest fires, with some actions banned and the public urged to take extra caution.

    Fire risk warning

    The campaign to raise awareness of the risk of forest fires comes from the fact that nine out of ten fires are started by human actions, and with the average temperature in France heading upwards it is set to be a long running campaign.

    Even something as simple as a small BBQ getting out of hand and grass nearby catching fire, or someone working with small machinery and tools in the forest that results in sparks catching light, can see the situation quickly get out of hand.

    Man lighting BBQ with fire risk
    Smokers are also being warned of the risks of lighting up in the woods themselves, or throwing cigarette stubs out of the window of a moving car and it smouldering in the grass at the roadside.

    Speed of fire spreading

    The campaign also highlights the risk of the speed with which a fire can spread, stressing that whilst you think you might have everything under control fires spread quickly.

    With the right conditions such as a strong wind, a fire can spread across a kilometre in just ten minutes, with the danger of burning embers landing in other areas and starting new fires.

    Man with angle grinder spreading sparks into grass

    Cut the risk of forest fires

    Some forests have already been closed to visitors, these fall under a vigilance rouge warning, so if you are in an area of risk be aware of where you can and cannot visit.

    But simple steps such as not smoking in wooded areas, only having a BBQ on a patio or terraced area and not having celebratory fireworks regardless of the occasion are some of the measures people can take.

    Working in forest zones can also be a risk especially on campsites with tools such as an angle grinder or soldering station, and ensure you have a fire extinguisher to hand.

    Although the pompiers and other forestry organisations are on full alert to spot outbreaks of fire, if you are close to the start of a fire call 112 or 18 and provide an exact location.

  • Map of water restrictions in France 2023

    Map of water restrictions in France
    WITH temperatures seeming to be forever heading upwards, water use and waste, as well as possible restrictions, are beginning to make the headlines across France.

    The French authorities are keen to make people aware of what they can do to preserve water, but they also provide up-to-date maps and reports on the water levels in the many rivers and streams in the country.

    IN the Dordogne the préfecture has published its own map highlighting the areas across the region that face water restrictions.

    The Propulvia website offers a map with the latest reports from around France.

    If you click on the département that interests you, this will then provide information on the rivers and areas that face restrictions.

    Map and vigilance levels

    There are four levels of vigilance. The lowest level in France is vigilance, or warning, and this means should be aware of their water use and try to conserve and not waste any water.

    The next step up is alerte and this requires homeowners to reduce the amount of water they use, for example in swimming pools or if watering their gardens.

    Small stream in Loubejac
    The agricultural sector can also face restrictions at this level, with a cut in the number of days they can water their crops for example.

    The second highest level of warning is alerte renforcée and this could see homeowners asked not to wash their cars, a ban on the water of lawns and farmers being asked not to water crops for half the week.

    And the highest level is crise which places an emphasis on ensuring drinking water is available to all residents and any other use facing tight restrictions or being banned completely.

    Mairie for updates

    A key thing to remember is that your local mairie should be your first port of call if you have any questions about what water use restrictions are in place local to you.

    The four levels of vigilance are used as a guide, but because individual areas have different water use and river volumes, detailed studies and data is gathered on a daily basis to ensure any restrictions are tightly focused.

    The Dordogne authorities have also announced the introduction of tighter water restrictions from the beginning of August.

    Fines for breaking water restrictions

    The French authorities are keen to offer advice over punishment when it comes to homeowners breaking the rules covering water use restrictions.

    You may be living in an area where restrictions on watering your lawn and gardens are in place, and whilst you should do your best to be informed, if you are visited by the local authorities they will usually issue a first warning and offer advice.

    Should you continue to ignore the water use restrictions in place then you are likely to face problems, with initial fines starting at 1,500 euros and heading upwards to 3,000 euros for continued infringement.

    Reduce your water use

    The French environment agency is keen to promote wise water use and make people more aware of what they can do to save water.

    In the home they stress the importance of not letting taps run, using your washing machine with a full load or on an eco setting and to install equipment that will let you reduce water use.

    Farmers and businesses are also urged to recycle water and ensure any leaks are quickly dealt with.

    How much water does the average French person use?

    The daily water use on average in France is 149 litres per person, which covers domestic consumption such as drinking water, use in the bathroom and around the house.

    This works out to 54 m³/person/year for domestic use.

  • Download a guide to Villefranche-du-Périgord 2022

    Villefranche-du-Périgord road sign
    A GUIDE to places to visit, restaurants to drop in on, as well as handy information on local shops and the history of Villefranche-du-Périgord has been produced for 2022.

    Overseen by Salvatore Orlando, of the art gallery located on rue Notre-Dame, the guide provides both visitors and locals a snap-shot of what is available around the village.

    Contact details for shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as gites and places to stay can be found.

    There is also a quick guide to some of the buildings and streets you can see, with a little on their history which in many cases stretches back to the Hundreds Year War.

    A handy little map is also featured in the guide to ensure you don’t get lost when exploring the medieval village of Villefranche-du-Périgord.

    Download the .pdf guide to Villefranche-du-Périgord

    Or view in your browser below:

  • Wooden handled toothbrush – Made in France

    Wooden handled toothbrush
    LIKE many people I gave little thought to replacing my toothbrush with a plastic handled version every couple of months.

    But as I became more aware of the impact of what I buy, I began to think of buying a bamboo handled toothbrush that was made in China.

    Looking more into how a toothbrush is made from bamboo, I began to realise that the transportation of them is where the environmental cost is at its highest.

    So I began to think more locally and searched for toothbrushes Made in France, because if there is one thing that France has a lot of it is wood.

    Beech wood for handles

    A quick Google search will soon provide you with sites such as Le Père Lucien and J’aime mes Dents who provide wooden handled toothbrushes made from beech.

    Another website, Bioseptyl, is a manufacturer located in the north west of France and who source its beech wood from the same corner of the country.

    The wood they use has been rejected by mills and other industries such as furniture manufacturers due to the colour or grain not being suitable.

    Brush head

    One area of the makeup of the brushes that has to be considered is the brush head itself, usually made of nylon, but in the case of eco manufacturing the filaments are made of 70% vegetable origin, usually castor oil.

    In Bioseptyl’s case the brush heads are imported from Germany, as there is currently no manufacturer based in France.

    Recycling wooden toothbrush

    Clearly, one of the key plus points of a wooden handled toothbrush over a plastic equivalent is the possibility to recycle it and so save on filling up a local déchetterie.

    The recommended way is to snap the head of the toothbrush off and put this in your regular waste bin, whilst placing the handle in the compost.

    Bioseptyl also offers a postal service that sees them provide an envelope that you can place the handles in and then send them back to the factory to be recycled.

    The packaging that the toothbrushes come in is also recyclable, so you can add a bit of carbon to your compost heap.

    Cleaning your toothbrush

    Caring for your wooden handled toothbrush, Made in France, is no different to others, you can leave them in a mix of bicarbonate of soda and water, or vinegar and water, for a couple of hours before rinsing them off.

    Buying local is nearly always the best way forward if you want to reduce the carbon footprint of your purchases, and just making that decision for a toothbrush can be a start to being better informed about what you buy.

  • What is the average temperature in France?

    River Dordogne at Baynac
    NATIONAL weather service, Météo-France, has updated its calculations for the average temperature in France, increasing it to 12.97C.

    Météo-France has said that it will draw on new readings from the period 1991-2020, as opposed to 1981-2010, to base future forecasts on and to study the impact of climate change on the country.

    And it is this data that has shown an increase in the average temperature for France of 0.42C, up from 12.55C.

    Every decade since 1970 has been warmer on average than the previous, with the period from 2011 to 2020 seeing an increase in average temperatures of 0.6C, the steepest rise since 1900.

    Temperatures in French cities

    An interesting comparison Météo-France has undertaken is to see what the climate of major cities of France is like now in comparison to 1970, saying that Strasbourg is now similar to Lyon, nearly 500 km further south and Lille is now similar to Rennes.

    Average rainfall levels across France have remained stable from 1981 to 2010 and 1991 to 2020, although regional difference have been noted including the south experiencing more rain than usual and the north of France less.

    With 2019 seeing temperatures hit 46C in the south of France, and 2020 the warmest year on record in France, being aware of what measures we can take to help tackle climate change seem to be increasingly important.

  • Avoid busiest traffic days on French roads

    Car grill and headlight
    WITH the summer 2022 holidays upon us the roads and autoroutes of France will see increased traffic from those looking to get away, but there are some websites you can use to try and get ahead of the jams.

    Les grandes vacances, or summer holidays, will see many head to holiday spots across France, and so increased traffic on the roads especially at weekends and around particularly popular areas of the country.

    You will see many news reports on French television and the internet talking of bouchons, or traffic jams, in le sens départ, which covers travel away from Paris often towards the west of France or down towards the south east and the Mediterranean coast.

    The Bison Futé website

    It is possible to get an idea of the travel problems and possible ways around les bouchons, by using the Bison Futé, or the smart bison, website.

    This not only provides up to the minute information on traffic conditions on French roads, but it must have one of the best names for a government website.

    The map shows you the whole of France and the major problems and issues on the main roads, such as repair work being undertaken, where the number of lanes have been reduced, sections of road that have traffic jams and even if animals have been seen on the roads.

    If you double-click on the area of France that concerns you most you can get more information on road conditions closer to home.

    Lacanao Ocean in South West France

    French towns and cities

    And if you want to see what the roads are like in some of the larger towns and cities of France then click on the Trafic des agglomérations tab above the map and this provides a list of locations and lets you zoom in on potential problems.

    You can also get an idea of potential traffic problems in the days and weeks to come by clicking on the Prévisions tab, with the summer months of July and August being bad especially around the weekends.

    With the period of 29, 30 and 31 July 2022 looking set to be bad with red warnings of difficult traffic conditions and even a black warning on the Saturday, highlighting the worst traffic conditions.

    You can take the Bison Futé website with you as apps are available for both Android and iPhone mobiles.

    Traffic on autoroutes

    Another website you might want to take a look over is Autoroutes.fr, which is the site representing the companies that manage the autoroutes across France.

    It provides information on the services available and toll road costs, but there is also a travel map that provides the latest information on ease of travel on the motorway system.

    It is similar to the Bison Futé site in that you are provided with information on lane closures and sections of road that are experiencing traffic jams, it is also a little easier on the eye.

    But remember it is only providing information about the autoroutes, and try not to buy fuel when on them, so once you come off the autoroute you are going to have to rely upon the Bison Futé site again.

    If you must travel during the summer months then a little advance planning might help smooth your journey, if you don’t have to I’d suggest travelling to France in September when the roads are back to normal and they are a joy to drive.

  • Roam-like-at-home scheme offers cost protection

    Mobile phone showing Android screen
    IF you use a French mobile phone operator, or any other from the EU, then you will be able to make calls, text and surf abroad without paying extra charges for another ten years.

    The EU has improved its mobile roaming regulations, its so-called ‘Roam-like-at-home’ scheme, promising travellers in the EU and the EEA no additional charges for using their EU-based operators across borders.

    British travellers fall outside these protections and so many people will face increased roaming charges for using their mobile phones whilst travelling in France and other EU countries.

    However, people in the EU who plan to travel to the UK should check with their own operators if there are any additional charges for using calls, text or the internet once over the Channel.

    EU roaming rules

    The Roam-like-at-home scheme will be in operation until 2032 and one of the newest rules will ensure that people receive the same internet speeds when they are using their phone at home as when they are travelling in other EU countries.

    So if your phone operates using 4G, or in some cases 5G, when at home if those speeds are available in the country you are travelling to then you are entitled to the same speeds and will not have to put up with a second class service.

    Roaming surcharges

    Another new development from the scheme protects mobile phone users from being hit with surcharges whilst travelling on a plane or boat.

    Phones can automatically connect to satellite based networks resulting in steep charges for people who are unaware their phones have connected to the internet.

    The EU has asked that mobile phone operators notify their customers if they connect to a satellite based network and that services are automatically halted should charges reach €50 or another predefined limit.

    Emergency 112 number

    The new rules also ask that operators make customers more aware of the 112 number that offers access to emergency services across the EU.

    So that from June 2023 people will receive a text message when travelling across borders highlighting the emergency number and advising them how they can contact the authorities if in danger.