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French utility bill quiz: estimates, meter readings and totals

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Read a French electricity bill: consommation estimée, relevé réel, abonnement, kWh, TTC, prélèvement. Twelve questions on a sample bill.

In short

A French energy bill (facture) has a fixed part, l'abonnement (standing charge), and a variable part, la consommation in kWh. Relevé réel means the meter was read; estimé means it was estimated. Montant TTC is the total including tax.

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A person checks a plain electricity meter beside a blank closed folder in a French home.
Un relevé réel records the meter's actual reading. Illustration: Atelier
Sample bill · Électricité · période du 01/01 au 28/02
LigneDétailMontant
Abonnement2 mois · 6 kVA28,40 €
Consommation512 kWh · relevé estimé128,30 €
Taxes et contributions31,15 €
Total TTC187,85 €
Déjà payé (mensualités)2 × 80,00 €160,00 €
Reste à payerprélevé le 15/0327,85 €
  1. Question 1No account needed
    What is l'abonnement ?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    the fixed standing charge. L'abonnement is paid whatever you use.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    How much electricity was used?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    512 kWh. Consumption is measured in kWh.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    Relevé estimé means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    the meter reading was estimated. Not actually read: an estimate.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    What is the total including tax?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    €187.85. The line Total TTC gives the full amount.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    How much has already been paid?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    €160.00 in two instalments. Mensualités: monthly payments.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    How much is left to pay?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    €27.85. Reste à payer: 187.85 − 160.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    How will it be paid?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    by direct debit on 15 March. Prélevé le 15/03: direct debit.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    6 kVA refers to…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    the power rating of the contract. La puissance souscrite: the contract's maximum power.

  9. Question 9No account needed
    If the estimate was too high, the next bill will…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    include a refund or credit (régularisation). Une régularisation corrects past estimates.

  10. Question 10No account needed
    Mensualisation means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    paying the same amount every month. Smoothed monthly payments.

  11. Question 11No account needed
    To give your own reading, you send…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    un autorelevé. L'autorelevé: a reading you submit yourself.

  12. Question 12No account needed
    Heures creuses are…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    off-peak hours with a cheaper price. Cheaper hours, often at night.

French bills follow a standard layout: your référence client and numéro de contrat at the top, the période de consommation, then the detail, and finally le montant à payer and la date de prélèvement. Keep the reference handy when you call the supplier.

To avoid a big régularisation, many people send un autorelevé (their own meter reading) online every few months. Modern Linky meters send readings automatically, which is why newer bills say relevé réel more often.

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