Overview

• The deployment of 34 million Linky smart meters in France was completed on time and cost €4.6 billion, 18% less than initially projected.
• Enedis, the operator responsible for the rollout, benefited from a favorable financial framework, including €407 million in performance bonuses and a guaranteed remuneration rate until 2041.
• Consumers ultimately bear the financial burden of the program through mechanisms like deferred tariffs, which the Cour des Comptes criticized as costly.
• The program has led to operational efficiencies, such as remote meter readings and reduced errors in billing, as well as improved grid stability during peak demand periods like winter 2022-2023.
• However, the expected consumer benefits, such as significant energy savings and market improvements, have fallen short of initial projections, with the Cour describing the commercial outcomes as disappointing.