Last verified: 5 October 2026, based on the official pages cited at the bottom of the page.

Are you preparing to move home in France? Organise your procedures around the home you are leaving, your new home, and your subscriptions.

Declare your change of address in a single step

The online service "Déclaration de changement d'adresse" lets you declare your new contact details simultaneously to several government services and certain private organisations.

The organisations listed are:

• Energy suppliers (EDF, Enercoop)
• France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi)
• French public health insurance (Sécurité sociale): health insurance, family allowance and pension funds (Agirc-Arrco, Caf, Camieg, CDC, CGSS, Cipav, CNMSS, CNRACL, CPAM, Enim, FSPOEIE, Ircantec, Mines, MSA, RAFP, SASPA)
• Tax office
• Services in charge of vehicle registration (SIV)

This service is free, available only in French, and can be used regardless of your nationality.

Prepare your login details for each of the relevant organisations.

If you are moving abroad, this online service lets you declare your departure to the CPAM and the tax office.

If you are an expatriate returning to live in France, you cannot use this online service to declare your return to France.

If you are an expatriate moving outside France, you cannot use this online service to declare your new address in a foreign country.

Before moving in: preparing the contracts

For electricity and natural gas, contact the supplier of your choice at least 15 days before moving in to sign a contract.

In a new detached house, first request connection to electricity and gas, unless the developer has already done so.

In a new apartment in a collective building, note or ask the developer for the references of the apartment or the meters: the electricity or gas suppliers will ask you for them.

For a new home, before requesting activation, make sure you have the certificates of conformity for the internal installations, for electricity and for natural gas.

When activating a new home, give these certificates to the energy network operator.

Choosing your supplier and tariff

You can change your electricity or gas supplier as many times as you like, return to your previous supplier, and change without any minimum commitment period.

For individuals, changing supplier is free.

To change supplier, sign a contract with the new supplier you have chosen: the old contract is automatically terminated when the new one takes effect.

For this change, provide the PDL or PRM number for electricity and the PCE number for gas; these numbers are shown on your bills.

Agree with the new supplier on a change date or a deadline to be specified later; if you can read your meter, send them the readings.

You do not change your meter when you change supplier.

The regulated electricity tariff is sold by EDF or a local distribution company, which must offer it to eligible consumers.

You can return to the regulated electricity tariff if your subscribed power does not exceed 36 kVA, except for certain discontinued offers such as EJP.

The regulated natural gas tariff was abolished on 1 July 2023; since that date, only market offers are available for natural gas.

Electricity activation: price and timeframes

The decision of the Energy Regulatory Commission of 02 July 2026 sets, since 1 August 2026, the price at €1.49 excluding tax for activation on an existing connection, in low-voltage withdrawal with a power not exceeding 36 kVA and a smart meter.

For this activation on an existing connection in low-voltage withdrawal not exceeding 36 kVA, the maximum timeframe is five working days.

Internet box: read the commitment before signing

For your internet box, Article L224-28 prohibits a minimum commitment period longer than twenty-four months from the signing or modification of the contract.

For contracts signed from 1 January 2023, if you accept a commitment longer than twelve months, Article L224-28 allows you to cancel as soon as the twelfth month following this acceptance is over, without paying the remaining monthly payments for the minimum period.

For an offer including the sale of a subsidised terminal device, this early cancellation may nevertheless be subject to payment of up to 20% of the amount due for the remaining part of the minimum period.

For a remote purchase, before ordering, the operator must in particular indicate the contract duration, any minimum duration, delivery times and service quality conditions.

Tip: keep the written confirmation of your box order with your contract.

Moving day: read the meters

In the home you are leaving, you read the electricity and gas meters, unless a technician has already read them during the cancellation appointment.

In the new home, if the energy is not cut off and you have already signed a contract indicating the move-in date, read the meters and send the numbers to the supplier for billing.

If the energy is cut off and activation is scheduled for later, wait for this appointment before using energy; you can ask the supplier to bring the date forward if possible.

Administrative procedures: ending old contracts

For the home you are leaving, contact the electricity and gas suppliers and request cancellation on your departure date.

If you postpone your move after the cancellation date, inform the supplier to reschedule the cancellation appointment.

You can cancel your energy contract at any time when moving; fees can only be charged if they are provided for in the initial offer and correspond to the actual costs incurred by the supplier with the network operator.

Send the meter readings to the supplier of the home you are leaving and indicate the address where you want to receive the cancellation bill.

Cancelling the box

According to Article L224-39, the notice period (préavis) for cancellation cannot exceed ten days from the operator's receipt of your request; however, you can request a later effective date.

Without a commitment, or once the commitment has ended, you can cancel at any time without giving a reason and without fees related to the commitment.

Moving to an area not covered by the network may allow cancellation without fees for legitimate reasons; send the operator the supporting documents for your situation.

If the contract was signed online or can be managed online, the operator must allow electronic cancellation.

The box and other equipment provided must be returned according to the contract conditions; fees may be charged if not returned.

Tip: keep proof of your request and the return of the equipment, then compare the final bill with the contract conditions.

Other organisations to notify

• If you are a foreign national from a country outside the European Union, you must have your residence permit (titre de séjour) updated.
• If you had home insurance (assurance habitation) for the home you are leaving, you must cancel it; if you are the tenant of the new home, you must sign a home insurance (assurance habitation) policy covering rental risks.
• Give your new address to the organisations that manage your bank accounts.
• In general, you must have your new address entered on the vehicle registration certificate; for a leased vehicle or one on long-term rental, contact the lender for the procedure.
• You are not required to change the address on your driving licence.
• You must notify the tax office.
• Inform the organisations that manage your benefits: Caf or MSA, CPAM or the organisation in charge of your health coverage if you are a public employee, top-up health insurance (mutuelle), and pension fund.
• Inform the water services and the telephone, television and internet operators that manage your accounts or subscriptions, past or future.

FAQ

Is EDF compulsory or can I choose another supplier?

You can choose different suppliers for electricity and gas, or the same one for both.

Can I change my mind after signing up for a box remotely?

For a remote purchase, the minimum legal withdrawal period is 14 days.

For a phone subscription or a supply of electricity or water taken out remotely, you can exercise your right of withdrawal from the day after the contract is signed.

For a combined purchase of a good and a service, such as a box with an internet subscription, you can exercise this right from the day after you receive the good.

If the period ends on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, it is extended until the next working day.

Before the end of the period, send the standard form provided with the contract or another written statement expressing your wish to withdraw.

Official resources

• “I’m moving out, I’m moving in: the steps for electricity and natural gas” (Médiateur national de l’énergie)
• “How to choose an electricity or gas supplier or change supplier?” (Service Public)
• “I want to change my electricity or natural gas supplier?” (Médiateur national de l’énergie)
• “Can I return to the regulated tariff after signing up for a market offer?” (Médiateur national de l’énergie)
• “Deliberation of the Energy Regulation Commission of 02 July 2026 on services provided exclusively by electricity distribution network operators” (Commission de régulation de l’énergie)
• “Telephone, internet or television: signing the contract” (Service Public)
• “My electricity or gas contract” (Médiateur national de l’énergie)
• “Telephone, internet or television: cancelling the contract” (Service Public)
• “Remote purchase: consumer right of withdrawal” (Service Public)
• “Sub-section 3: Formation of the contract (Articles L224-28 to L224-32)” (Légifrance)
• “Sub-section 4: Performance of the contract (Articles L224-33 to L224-42-1)” (Légifrance)
• “Change of address declaration” (Service Public)
• “I’m moving home in France” (Service Public)

And what about Pionra?

Pionra does not replace your energy supplier, your operator, or the administrations. It is a space to share your experience.

Have you just completed this process? Share your experience in a comment or in a note to help those who come after you.