French Audit Highlights Cost Savings and Consumer Impact of Linky Smart Meter Rollout

The Cour des Comptes praises the industrial success of the Linky program while criticizing its financial burden on consumers.

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.