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Read a French electricity bill: abonnement, kWh and échéance

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

A French facture d'électricité: meter readings, consumption in kWh, the fixed subscription, taxes and the payment date. Check that the numbers add up.

In short

A French electricity bill splits into l'abonnement (fixed subscription, depending on your power in kVA), la consommation (kWh used, from the index readings), taxes et contributions, and the total TTC. Date limite de paiement or prélèvement le… tells you when you pay.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A home table with blank paperwork, a lit lamp, kettle and radiator.
Connect household electricity use with la consommation. Illustration: Atelier

Énergie Claire

Facture d'électricité

Votre contrat

OffreTarif fixe · option Base

Puissance6 kVA

Périodedu 01/09 au 31/10

Relevé du compteur

Ancien index (01/09)18 204 kWh

Nouvel index (31/10)18 616 kWh

Consommation412 kWh

Détail

Abonnement (2 mois)31,40 €

Consommation 412 kWh × 0,2516 €103,66 €

Taxes et contributions22,94 €

TOTAL TTC158,00 €

Prélèvement automatique le 15/11 sur votre compte.

Relevé réel effectué par le gestionnaire du réseau.

Service client : du lundi au vendredi, 8 h – 20 h

Question 1No account needed
How much electricity was used?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

412 kWh. New index minus old index: 18 616 − 18 204.

Question 2No account needed
What is the subscription for two months?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

€31.40. Abonnement (2 mois). Check it in the text above.

Question 3No account needed
How will the bill be paid?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

automatic debit on 15/11. Prélèvement automatique le 15/11.

Question 4No account needed
What does 6 kVA describe?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

the contracted power. Puissance: how much power you can draw at once.

Question 5No account needed
Was the reading estimated?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

No, it was a real reading. Relevé réel. Check it in the text above.

Words from the document

Vocabulary
FrenchEnglish
l'abonnementthe standing charge
la consommationusage
l'index / le relevéthe meter reading
le prélèvement (automatique)direct debit
la puissance (kVA)power rating
TTC (toutes taxes comprises)tax included

Une facture estimée uses a guess when the meter wasn't read; you can send your own reading online to correct it. Many households pay par mensualités: the same amount each month, with a yearly facture de régularisation that adjusts the difference.

  • Ma facture de courant est payée par prélévement.Ma facture d'électricité est payée par prélèvement.

    Spelling: prélèvement.

  • Je consomme 412 kW.J'ai consommé 412 kWh.

    Energy is in kWh; kW is power.

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