Users opt against Linky meter installation: "Last resort, achieving energy self-sufficiency in personal power production!"
Revised Article:
In 2025, the French government is enforcing charges for households that decline Linky meter installations. With 95% of homes already equipped, around 2 million French households remain resistant. Health, privacy, and electrosensitivity are prominent reasons for this ongoing resistance.
By August 1, 2025, those who choose not to install the offered Linky meter from Enedis will face bi-monthly fees. These charges consist of a fixed management fee and an additional charge for untransmitted consumption data, amounting to a total of 10.62 euros per person (excluding tax)[1].
The Resistance Grows: Why Do French Households Hold Out?
Reasoning for the decision to abstain from Linky meter installation varies. Below are some of the most frequently mentioned concerns:
- Protection of Personal Data: For individuals like Jean-Luc, data privacy is paramount. They express unease over Enedis' collection of their electricity consumption data through the Linky meters[2].
- Location Restrictions: Households such as Nadège and Hervé refuse the imposed box location, with the living room being a common concern[2].
- Electromagnetic Concerns: Often, people mention potential risks of electromagnetic pollution[2]. Thierry, for example, opposes the installation of the Linky meter due to concerns about its "unreliable" nature and potential health risks[2].
- Health of the Family: Gregory is concerned about the health of his autistic son, who may experience sleep disturbances due to the Linky meter's presence[2]. He views the mandatory installation of the Linky meter as an injustice, requiring households to essentially pay a "health tax" to manually read their own meters.
Despite Enedis' assertions that the Linky meter poses no risk to health or the environment, doubts persist[2]. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) is currently evaluating the health implications of Linky meters[3].
It is essential to distinguish the Linky meter from the optional module, known as the Linky radio transmitter (ERT), which connects to the Linky meter and utilizes radio waves for real-time data transmission[3]. Some argue that the radio waves may intensify the risk of electrosensitivity, a condition that affects around 3.3 million French people[4].
In the aftermath, Enedis encourages ongoing communication with electro-hypersensitive clients and maintains that no danger exists from Linky meters[3]. However, Jean-Luc, our contentious reader, discloses that his "last resort" would be to disconnect from the current electricity network and transition to self-sufficient electricity production[3].
Sources:
- Source 1
- Source 2
- Source 3
- Source 4
Enrichment Data:
Keywords:
French households, Linky meters, reasons for refusal, health concerns, legal precedents, privacy, data security, financial burden, lack of benefits
Themes:Resistance to forced installation, health concerns, personal data protection, financial implications, privacy, skepticism regarding benefits, legal rights
Additional Information:
- An active Wi-Fi box emits stronger electric fields than the Linky meter's optional Linky radio transmitter module[4].
- The ruling by the Lyon Administrative Court acknowledges the right of individuals to refuse Linky meters based on subjective suffering[2].
- Electrosensitivity is suspected to be influenced by various environmental factors, including electromagnetic fields[4].
- In the midst of the growing resistance against Linky meter installation, concerns about personal data privacy and electromagnetic risks are of significant concern to many French households, such as Jean-Luc.
- The financial burden of refusing the Linky meter, which includes bi-monthly charges for untransmitted consumption data, has become a controversial aspect of policy-and-legislation in the energy industry, & especially in politics.
- As the French government seeks to enforce charges for households that decline Linky meter installations, the validity of concerns about health implications, particularly electrosensitivity, remains a hot topic in general-news discussions, with some even considering self-sufficient electricity production as a last resort.
