EDF – Efficient Delivery Folks

On Sunday 7.30pm, our electricity system ceases to function. All fuses seem to operate. No incoming electricity. Main switch is in working position.
On Sunday 7.43pm, a phone call is extended from a cell phone to a local electrician.
On Sunday 8.15pm, a local electrician arrives at the premise of the accident. Electrician checks all my switches, all in order. There is no power entering the house. He diagnoses an Electricite de France problem.
We call EDF and hear a melodious mermaid-like voice asking us to leave our calling details. We leave a cell phone number – note that we have not got a landline.
EDF calls back 4.3 min later and promises to send someone over.
EDF operator arrives at the premises 25 min later. Network is up but there is no power entering the house.
Following trail of lost signal, EDF digs out buried switch box that landlord has never mentioned to us, lest we conducted a hassle free lifestyle. 27 min after final EDF call, the power is switched back on.

Actually, after the EU directive of 1996 to liberalize the energy industry, EDF seems to have organize itself in a very efficient power house. Fortunately for them, the French market is not open to anyone else, so they have in practice a natural monopoly there, loads of over capacity coming from the French nuclear plants (producing about 80% of the country’s electricity) and they are exporting to neighboring countries. Probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest energy company in the world (US companies are all smaller players as the economic landscape there is much more fragmented). Contrary to France Telecom though, looks like they turned an elephant into a gazelle. A lot might have to do with political clout, a lot with the necessity to start showing growth (with France entirely covered, it would have been difficult to grow any further in that market).

Only downside…an ethical and environmental one. Nuclear power creates a lot of nuclear waste which tends to end off the West Coast of Africa – as countries get paid for the privilege to hold this liability.