Dossier ENGIE
How long does it take to install a gas meter?
Gazpar, the smart gas meter developed by GRDF (France’s gas distribution network operator), is completing its rollout to the 11 million households concerned! If you are not yet equipped, don’t worry everything is well organized, and you will be notified before a technician visits. Here is a practical guide.
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Gas meter replacement: why Gazpar and for whom?
For the 11 million households using natural gas in France, the installation of the new Gazpar gas meter has been scheduled. This is a legal obligation stemming from a European directive, which cannot be avoided. This smart meter will ultimately allow you to track your daily gas consumption, giving you better insight and control to help reduce it.
After being tested in 24 cities and 4 different regions in 2016, the rollout of the Gazpar gas meter has expanded across the whole of France. This gas meter replacement program was completed in 2024. The smart meter will be installed in the same location as your previous meter (except in exceptional cases). Note that if you already have a recent meter, only a radio communication module will be added.
Installing the Gazpar gas meter in 6 key steps
To replace gas meters, GRDF follows 7 key steps.
Notification letter
Between one month and one and a half months before the installation of the Gazpar gas meter, GRDF informs you by post that your household will soon be affected by this change.
Scheduling the appointment
A few weeks before the installation, the company responsible for installing Gazpar will offer you a date and time slot to install the new gas meter. You can modify this slot if it does not suit you. Please note that your presence is not required if the meter is located outside your home.
Gas appliances turned off
Eight hours before the technician’s visit, switch off all your gas-powered appliances (cookers, boilers, etc.).
The technician is on the way
Around half an hour before arriving at your home, the technician will notify you of their imminent arrival.
Installation of the gas meter
Allow approximately 30 minutes for the technician to install the new Gazpar gas meter. Your presence is not required if the meter is accessible outside your home.
Commissioning Gazpar
Once the gas meter has been replaced, the technician activates Gazpar. If you are not at home, they will leave instructions so you can do it yourself, along with a phone number to call if you would like them to return to complete the activation.
How does Gazpar work?
The Gazpar meter communicates via radio on a frequency band between 169.4 and 169.475 MHz, close to the FM band (87 to 108 MHz) used for listening to the radio. It is powered by a lithium battery rather than electricity, for safety and practicality reasons. This battery lasts up to 20 years, and its replacement at the end of its life is free of charge. Meter readings are taken automatically on a daily and monthly basis and transmitted to GRDF.
And what about you in all this? Simply log in to your GRDF customer account to view all your consumption data. Once your Gazpar meter is installed, you are completely free to change supplier or contract if you wish.
