What are the main electricity suppliers in France and Europe?

By David S. Electrical installation Dec. 26 2025

The electricity market in France and Europe has undergone a major transformation since it was opened up to competition in the early 2000s. Today, French consumers have around forty electricity suppliers to choose from, while the European landscape boasts several hundred players of varying sizes. This diversification gives consumers and professionals the opportunity to choose an offer tailored to their specific needs, whether in terms of price, energy origin or associated services. Understanding how the electricity market works and identifying the main suppliers is essential to optimizing your energy bill and making informed choices about your consumption. This article gives you a complete overview of the major players in the electricity sector in France and Europe, their specific features and the criteria you need to take into account to select the supplier best suited to your situation.

Contents

The French electricity market: a sector in the throes of change

Opening up to competition

Since 2007, the French electricity market has been fully open to competition for both residential and business customers. This liberalization, initiated by European directives in 1996 and 2003, put an end to EDF's historic monopoly and enabled the emergence of numerous alternative suppliers. The current regulatory framework guarantees freedom of choice of supplier, while maintaining a public energy service accessible to all.

The Commission de Régulation de l'Energie (CRE) supervises this market and ensures that competition is respected. In particular, it sets tariffs for the use of the transmission and distribution networks, which remain natural monopolies managed by RTE (Réseau de Transport d'Électricité) and Enedis to guarantee the delivery of electricity to consumers.

The different types of supplier

There are three main categories of electricity supplier in France. The incumbent suppliers, of which EDF is the main representative, benefit from long experience and an extensive infrastructure. Alternative suppliers, who arrived after the market was opened up, generally offer competitive and innovative deals. Finally, green suppliers specialize in electricity from renewable sources, responding to growing demand from environmentally conscious consumers.

The main electricity suppliers in France

EDF: the historical leader

EDF (Électricité de France) remains France's leading electricity supplier, with over 25 million customers. Founded in 1946, the company has long held a monopoly on the production and distribution of electricity in France. Today, EDF offers the regulated sales tariff (TRV), set by the public authorities, as well as indexed or fixed-price market offers.

The Group has a diversified generating fleet comprising 56 nuclear reactors in 18 power plants, hydroelectric dams, thermal power plants and renewable energy facilities. This significant production capacity enables EDF to control the entire value chain, from generation to marketing. The company is also developing innovative services such as consumption management solutions and the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles.

Engie: the former GDF Suez becomes a major player

Engie, formerly GDF Suez, is France's second-largest electricity supplier, with around 4 million customers. Historically specialized in natural gas, the group has gradually positioned itself in the electricity market following the merger between Gaz de France and Suez in 2008. Engie offers competitive deals, often cheaper than the regulated tariffs, as well as certified green electricity.

The company is betting on the energy transition by massively developing renewable energies. Its generating fleet includes hydro, wind, solar and thermal power plants. Engie also stands out for its expertise in energy services for businesses and local authorities, offering energy efficiency and facility maintenance solutions.

TotalEnergies: the oil company in electricity

TotalEnergies (formerly Total Direct Energie after the acquisition of Direct Energie in 2018) has over 5 million customers and is France's third-largest electricity supplier. The group's offers are particularly competitive, with significant reductions on kilowatt-hour and subscription prices compared with regulated tariffs.

TotalEnergies is diversifying its activities beyond hydrocarbons by investing heavily in renewable energies. The company develops solar and wind power projects in France and abroad, while offering complementary services such as the installation of photovoltaic panels or efficient heating systems for private customers.

Strong growth for alternative suppliers

Several alternative suppliers have gained significant market share in recent years. Eni, the Italian energy giant, offers competitive deals with top-quality customer service. Vattenfall, a state-owned Swedish company, focuses on renewable electricity and innovative solutions to reduce carbon footprints.

Mint Energie, Ohm Energie and Ekwateur are among France's 100% digital suppliers, offering reduced prices thanks to an optimized cost structure. These players are banking on dematerialized customer relations, mobile applications and transparent pricing to attract young, connected customers.

Specialized green suppliers

Faced with the growing demand for green electricity, several suppliers have specialized in renewable energies. Planète Oui offers 100% French and renewable electricity from small local producers. Ilek enables consumers to choose their green electricity producer directly from a network of independent producers.

Enercoop, a cooperative created in 2005, stands out for its democratic model, in which members participate in the company's decision-making. The cooperative sources its energy exclusively from renewable energy producers and reinvests its profits in the development of new green production capacity. Urban Solar Energy and Plüm Energie complete this offer with innovative approaches focused on energy efficiency and energy savings.

Europe's electricity giants

European national champions

Each European country generally has one or more national electricity champions. In Germany, E.ON and RWE dominate the market with a strong presence in production, distribution and marketing. E.ON, following its restructuring in 2016, is focusing on distribution networks and customer solutions, while RWE has refocused on power generation, particularly renewable.

In the UK, British Gas (owned by Centrica), EDF Energy (UK subsidiary of EDF) and E.ON UK share a significant share of the consumer market. In Italy, Enel dominates the sector, with over 60 million customers worldwide and a strong international presence. The Italian group is investing heavily in renewable energies and smart grids to modernize power grids.

In Spain, Iberdrola and Endesa are the two main players. Iberdrola has established itself as a world leader in renewable energies, with an extensive portfolio of wind and solar farms. Endesa, a subsidiary of Italy's Enel Group, maintains a strong position in the Spanish market while expanding its activities in several European countries.

International multi-energy groups

Several European energy conglomerates operate in many countries, offering both electricity and gas. Engie, already mentioned for France, is present in some twenty European countries and offers its services to over 30 million customers. In particular, the Belgian group is developing its expertise in energy services and the transition to low-carbon energies.

Vattenfall, owned by the Swedish state, operates mainly in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and the United Kingdom. The company has set itself the ambitious goal of enabling a life without fossil fuels within a generation, and is investing heavily in offshore wind power and energy storage solutions. CEZ, the Czech giant, dominates Central Europe with operations in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria.

Renewable electricity producers

Europe has a number of players specializing in renewable electricity generation, and these are gaining in importance. Ørsted, formerly DONG Energy, has transformed itself from a Danish oil and gas company into a world leader in offshore wind energy. The Group is developing huge wind farms in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and off the American coast.

Norwegian state-owned Statkraft is Europe's largest producer of renewable energy, with a portfolio dominated by hydroelectricity, complemented by wind and solar power. NextEra Energy, although American, is also developing significant projects in Europe and is a global benchmark in clean energy.

How to choose your electricity supplier

Compare offers and rates

The first criterion is usually the price of electricity. You need to compare both the price of the monthly subscription and the price per kilowatt-hour, which vary between suppliers and offers. Some offer tariffs indexed to regulated tariffs with a percentage reduction, while others offer fixed prices guaranteed over one or more years, protecting the consumer from price increases.

Peak/off-peak offers can be interesting for households that can shift part of their consumption to off-peak hours, for example for electric heating or electric vehicle charging. We recommend using online comparators and simulating your annual bill based on your actual consumption to identify the most advantageous offer.

Focus on the origin of electricity

For environmentally conscious consumers, the origin of electricity is a decisive criterion. Green offers guarantee that the equivalent of the customer's consumption is fed into the grid in the form of renewable electricity. However, there are different levels of commitment: some suppliers simply purchase guarantees of origin, while others invest directly in new renewable generation capacity.

Labels such as VertVolt, created by ADEME, help identify the most committed suppliers. The "committed" level guarantees that 100% of electricity comes from French renewable sources, while the "very committed" level additionally requires that a minimum of 25% comes from recent installations, thus supporting the development of new capacity.

Evaluating customer service quality

The quality of customer service varies considerably from one supplier to another. It's important to check the opening hours and available contact methods (phone, email, chat, mobile app), as well as customer reviews on specialized platforms. Some suppliers prefer a 100% digital relationship, which may not suit all consumer profiles.

Application processing times, billing clarity and responsiveness in the event of a problem are all factors to be taken into account. Incumbent suppliers generally have a network of physical branches, while new entrants rely on high-performance digital tools and accessible customer service.

Consider complementary services

In addition to simply supplying electricity, many suppliers also offer value-added services. Some offer free energy diagnostics, personalized advice on how to reduce consumption or real-time monitoring tools via a mobile application. Referral programs also offer discounts for recommending the supplier to friends and family.

Assistance services for electrical breakdowns, equipment repairs or boiler maintenance may be included in some offers. For homeowners wishing to invest in self-consumption, several suppliers offer photovoltaic panel installation with attractive financing solutions.

Conclusion

The landscape of electricity suppliers in France and Europe today offers consumers a wide range of choices. In France, some forty suppliers are vying for a share of the market, from the historic leader EDF to new players specializing in green electricity. On a European scale, major energy groups such as Enel, E.ON, Iberdrola and Vattenfall are structuring the market while facing competition from dynamic renewable energies.

This competition benefits consumers, who can now choose their supplier according to their priorities: competitive price, renewable origin of electricity, quality of customer service or additional services. The market is continuing to evolve towards greener, more decentralized electricity, driven by European carbon neutrality targets and growing public expectations in terms of energy transition.

To make the right choice, it's essential to regularly compare the offers available, to fully understand each supplier's pricing structure and environmental commitments, and to adapt your contract to your changing needs. The electricity market will continue to transform in the coming years, with the rise of self-consumption, local energy communities and storage solutions redefining the role of traditional suppliers.

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Author

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David S.

Member Premium Plus of domeashop since 2019.

Our team of writers has been selected to provide you with quality articles to help you realize your projects. All information is systematically checked and referenced, so you can be sure of our editorial quality.

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Frequently asked questions

The domeashop store offers you a list of questions and answers corresponding to the most frequently asked questions related to the theme and products discussed in this article. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, contact us and our specialists will be happy to help.

Yes, you can change your electricity supplier at any time in France, at no cost and without a power cut. There's no advance notice required, although some suppliers recommend informing them a few weeks in advance to ease the transition. The new supplier automatically cancels the old contract at the time of subscription. The change takes effect within 15 days of the request. This contractual freedom is guaranteed by European regulations, and enables consumers to regularly optimize their energy bills by taking advantage of the best offers on the market.

The regulated sales tariff (TRV) is set by the public authorities on the recommendation of the Commission de Régulation de l'Énergie. Only EDF for electricity and Engie for gas can offer these tariffs, which serve as a benchmark for the market. Market offers are freely determined by alternative suppliers and can be either indexed-price (evolving with the TRV but with a guaranteed reduction) or fixed-price (locked in for a fixed period, generally 1 to 3 years). Market offers are often more competitive than regulated tariffs, but it's important to check the price revision conditions and the commitment period to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Green electricity is electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydro or biomass. In practice, green electricity is mixed with conventional electricity in the grid, so it's impossible to guarantee that the electrons consumed come specifically from renewable sources. Green electricity suppliers undertake to inject into the grid a quantity of renewable electricity equivalent to their customers' consumption, certified by guarantees of origin. The most committed suppliers invest directly in new renewable production facilities, thus actively contributing to the energy transition. ADEME's VertVolt label identifies the most virtuous offers.

No, Enedis (formerly ERDF) is not an electricity supplier, but the operator of the electricity distribution network in mainland France. A 100% subsidiary of EDF, Enedis is responsible for delivering electricity from the high-voltage transmission network to consumers' meters. The company manages network maintenance and development, troubleshooting in the event of power cuts, meter reading and replacement with Linky meters. Enedis works for all consumers, regardless of their chosen supplier. The remaining 5% of the territory is covered by local distribution companies (ELD), which carry out the same tasks as Enedis in their geographical area.

Electricity prices vary slightly from one region to another due to differences in transmission costs. The French territory is divided into tariff zones that take into account population density and distribution network operating costs. However, these differences remain marginal for private customers. Regulated tariffs are identical for the same zone throughout the country. Market offers, on the other hand, can vary considerably according to suppliers' commercial strategies and geographical locations. The French overseas departments and territories have separate electricity systems with specific tariffs that take account of local production and transmission constraints.

In the event of failure of an electricity supplier, continuity of supply is guaranteed by regulation. Consumers are automatically switched to the incumbent supplier in their area (usually EDF), which becomes their transitional supplier. This safeguard mechanism ensures that no household goes without power. Customers then have a period of time in which to choose a new supplier or remain with the incumbent. Any overpayments or credits on the defaulting customer account can be recovered as part of the liquidation procedure, although this can take a long time. Since the opening of the market, several small suppliers have gone out of business, but this protection mechanism has always worked effectively.

The price of electricity billed to the consumer breaks down into several components. The supply and marketing part (around 35% of the bill) corresponds to the cost of purchasing electricity and the supplier's margins. Transport via the transmission and distribution networks (around 30%) is billed by RTE and Enedis according to regulated tariffs that are identical for all suppliers. Taxes account for around 35% of the total bill, and include the CSPE (contribution au service public de l'électricité), local taxes, the CTA (contribution tarifaire d'acheminement) and VAT at 20%. Only the supply part can vary from one supplier to another, which explains why price differences between suppliers are limited.

Yes, it's perfectly possible to have different suppliers for different delivery points (homes, business premises, second homes). Each delivery point has a unique PDL (Point De Livraison) number and can be associated with a separate contract. This flexibility enables you to optimize your costs by choosing the offer best suited to your consumption profile for each delivery point. For example, a primary residence with electric heating could benefit from a peak/off-peak offer, while a secondary residence that is not used very much might prefer an offer with a reduced subscription. However, managing multiple contracts requires administrative organization and can make it difficult to keep track of your energy bills.

In France, renewable energies account for around 25% of electricity production, dominated by hydroelectricity, followed by wind power and solar photovoltaics, which are growing fast. Nuclear power produces around 70% of France's electricity, making France one of the European countries with the lowest-carbon electricity mix. On a European scale, the share of renewables in electricity generation will exceed 40% in 2023, overtaking fossil fuels for the first time. Nordic countries such as Norway, Sweden and Iceland have rates of over 90%, thanks to their significant hydroelectric potential. Germany, Spain and Portugal have invested massively in wind and solar power. The European Union has set itself the target of achieving a 42.5% share of renewable energies in its final energy consumption by 2030.

Many electricity suppliers now offer photovoltaic self-consumption solutions for private and business customers. These offers generally include a feasibility study, solar panel installation, grid connection and administrative management. Some suppliers offer turnkey packages with integrated financing. Self-consumption allows you to consume the electricity generated by your solar panels directly and sell the surplus to the grid via a feed-in tariff or a free resale contract. EDF, Engie, TotalEnergies and several alternative suppliers have developed specific offers that combine electricity supply and self-consumption services. Some also offer battery storage solutions to optimize the use of solar-generated electricity.