As soon as a new or fully redone electrical installation is involved, one word always comes up in France: the Consuel. It's often a grey area for owners — mandatory or not, at what price, who handles it? Here's the clear picture, because it's a step we handle regularly on our renovation projects. To understand our approach to the work, start with our electrical renovation page.
What is the Consuel certificate?
The Consuel — the French national committee for the safety of electricity users — is the state-approved body that checks the compliance of electrical installations. In practice, the Consuel certificate is the official document certifying that your installation meets the standard in force (NFC 15-100 for homes). Without this approval, the grid operator (Enedis) won't connect the meter.
For a house or a flat, the so-called "yellow" certificate applies — the one for new or renovated domestic installations. That's the document we fill in for the work we carry out.
When is the certificate mandatory?
The Consuel certificate isn't systematic. It becomes mandatory in four main cases:
- A brand-new electrical installation: a new build, an extension, a newly created space.
- A full renovation of the installation: when the circuits and panel are entirely redone, the installation counts as new.
- A reconnection after a long cut-off: if the home has been without electricity for more than six months, reconnection requires a fresh approval.
- A switch to self-consumption with photovoltaic panels (a different type of certificate).
Conversely, a simple repair, adding a socket or swapping a panel on a sound existing installation don't trigger a certificate. It's the "new or fully renovated" nature that makes it mandatory — exactly the kind of point we check with you before quoting.
How it works in practice
The process always follows the same thread. The installer — us, for our projects — fills in the certificate once the work is done, then submits it to the Consuel. The body approves some files on paper and inspects others with an on-site visit, drawn at random or depending on the type of installation. Once the certificate is approved, it lets you request the meter connection from your supplier.
The timing depends on the handling: a few days for a paper approval, a bit longer when an inspection visit is scheduled. We plan this step from the start of the project so you're not left without power at the end of the work.
How much does the Consuel cost?
Two things to separate. On one hand, the Consuel fee itself: around €180 for a standard residential certificate, a rate set by the body and revised each year. On the other, the cost of the compliance work if your installation isn't up to standard yet — that depends on the starting state, and is the subject of a detailed quote.
One important point: the Consuel approval can't be bought separately from the work. It validates a genuinely compliant installation. If someone offers you a certificate without serious work behind it, be wary.
Our role: compliant work, then the certificate
Our job is first to deliver an installation that will pass the check without a hitch: compliant panel, adapted residual-current devices, earthing, properly sized circuits. We then fill in the Consuel certificate for the project and support you through to the connection.
If you're not sure your project needs a Consuel, tell us what you're planning: a full electrical renovation, a simple refresh, a reconnection. We'll tell you honestly what applies. A look at our pricing gives you a sense of the ranges, and for a precise quote, contact us by phone or through the form.
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