CONSUEL: the French electrical safety inspection

When is a CONSUEL attestation required?

CONSUEL inspection is not required for every electrical job. It applies in specific circumstances:

• New construction: any new residential property must have a CONSUEL attestation before Enedis connects the meter
• Complete rewire: a full rewire of an existing property triggers the requirement
• EV charging point installation: every home wallbox installation requires a CONSUEL attestation as part of the installation process and the ADVENIR subsidy application
• New consumer unit (tableau électrique): replacing the distribution board typically requires attestation
• Solar PV grid connection: connecting a solar installation to the Enedis network involves a CONSUEL check
• Significant extension of an existing installation: adding substantial new circuits or capacity, depending on scope

Routine work such as replacing sockets, fitting a new light fitting, or adding a single circuit to an existing compliant installation does not require CONSUEL attestation. The electrician's professional judgement determines the threshold, but for any significant new installation the question should be addressed explicitly in the devis.

What is the attestation de conformité?

The attestation de conformité is a certificate issued by CONSUEL confirming that an electrical installation has been inspected and found to comply with the NF C 15-100 standard. It is the French equivalent of an electrical installation certificate (EIC) in the UK or a certificate of compliance in other jurisdictions.

The attestation includes:

• The property address and installation details
• The date of inspection
• A CONSUEL reference number
• Confirmation of compliance (or a list of non-conformities if the first inspection failed)

Keep the attestation permanently. You will need to present it when selling the property, and it is the document an insurer or subsequent electrician would ask for to establish the standard of the existing installation.

How does the inspection process work?

The process runs as follows:

1. The electrician completes the installation and fills in the CONSUEL attestation form, declaring the work done and confirming it meets the standard
2. CONSUEL reviews the declaration. For installations above a certain complexity, an inspector visits the property to verify the work against the declaration
3. If the installation complies, CONSUEL issues the attestation. If non-conformities are found, the electrician must rectify them and submit for re-inspection
4. Once the attestation is issued, it can be submitted to Enedis to activate the supply or the specific circuit

Your electrician handles this process. It is not something you manage independently as the homeowner. When requesting a devis for work that will require attestation, confirm that the CONSUEL application and inspection is included in the quote and is the installer's responsibility.

What does a CONSUEL attestation cost?

CONSUEL inspection fees are set nationally. For a standard residential installation, the fee is typically in the range of 100 to 200 EUR. Some electricians include this in their overall quote; others list it as a separate line item. Either approach is acceptable, but you should know which applies before comparing quotes. An installer who says CONSUEL "isn't their problem" is not the right choice for work that requires it.

What happens without a CONSUEL attestation?

Without an attestation, Enedis will not connect a new meter or activate an EV charging circuit. Practically, this means:

• A new property cannot be legally occupied with mains electricity
• An EV wallbox cannot be commissioned and the ADVENIR subsidy cannot be claimed
• A solar system cannot be connected to the grid

For work on an existing property where CONSUEL was not obtained when it should have been, the situation is more ambiguous: the supply continues to function, but the installation is not formally compliant and this can create problems when selling, when claiming on home insurance after an electrical incident, or when a future electrician reviews the installation.

CONSUEL and EV charging: how they connect

For every home EV charging installation, CONSUEL attestation is a fixed requirement. It is part of what an IRVE-certified installer does as a matter of course: they install the wallbox, complete the attestation declaration, arrange the CONSUEL inspection, and then submit the attestation as part of the ADVENIR subsidy application. If a contractor installs a wallbox without mentioning CONSUEL, ask directly whether they are handling the attestation, because skipping it means the installation is not compliant and the subsidy cannot be claimed.

Related topics

• General electrical work on the Cote d'Azur
• EV charger installation
• IRVE certification for EV charging installers
• Devis: what your quote should contain