TOUT CE QUE VOUS NE SAVIEZ PAS SUR L’ÉLECTRICITÉ... CHARGER SON IPHONE COMBIEN ÇA COÛTE RÉELLEMENT ?

Céline Stein, CEO of Octopus Energy, a company with 750,000 clients in France, including the city of Paris, discusses electricity, energy consumption, and the benefits of green energy. Octopus Energy is a French renewable energy provider and producer, installing solar panels, charging stations, and heat pumps. They are the 5th largest provider in France, aiming for a million clients this year. The interview begins by addressing common questions about electricity costs. For instance, charging an iPhone 17 Pro Max for a year (1.5 times a day) costs about €1.50. A 5W LED bulb left on 24/7 costs about €0.02 per day. The city of Paris's annual electricity bill is around €100 million, covering buildings, monuments, schools, and public lighting, including the Elysée Palace. The Eiffel Tower alone consumes as much electricity as 10,000 households, costing roughly €1 million per year due to its extensive lighting and operations like elevators and restaurants. Céline debunks several myths about electricity consumption. Leaving devices plugged in that are not charging, or in standby mode, does consume electricity. While a single device might only consume 10-15W (costing €10-€15 annually for a game console), the cumulative effect of all standby devices in a household can reach €100 per year. Chargers that feel hot indicate wasted electricity. Turning off electronic devices during a thunderstorm is not strictly necessary due to lightning rods but is a common precaution for expensive items. Regarding household appliances, it's not ideal to put a hot dish directly into the refrigerator as it makes the fridge work harder and consume more energy. Allowing it to cool down first, perhaps outside in winter, is better. Refrigerators and water heaters don't run constantly; they operate intermittently to maintain temperature. Therefore, it's beneficial to time their operation when electricity is cheapest. Washing clothes at 30°C instead of 60°C can save around €40 annually. Plugging a power strip into another power strip is dangerous and carries a risk of fire. Solar panels are effective even in less sunny regions like northern France, not just in the south. They work with light, not just direct sunshine, and perform better in cold weather. Octopus Energy installs solar panels with batteries to store energy for optimal use, as most production occurs during the day when people are out. For a family in Lille, installing solar panels and a battery can reduce their annual electricity bill from €1250 (the average French household bill, which has risen to €1850 in 2025) to €250, saving €1000 per year. The installation cost for a typical house with a battery is around €15,000, which can be recouped in 8-10 years. In sunnier areas like Marseille, 100% self-sufficiency is possible, with some homes having no electricity bill for at least the first year, and guaranteed for 5 years in new or renovated homes. Homeowners can even sell excess electricity back to the grid or directly to neighbors through "collective self-consumption." Some individuals and professionals generate profit by investing in large-scale solar installations. Octopus Energy also offers services to manage electricity consumption, guaranteeing no bills for a year for clients with solar panels and batteries. They also handle maintenance for solar panels, recommending professional cleaning for safety and efficiency. Environmentally, modern solar panels and batteries have significantly improved. Their ecological footprint is repaid in 1.5 years, and they are 80 times more eco-friendly than coal. Céline suggests that integrating solar panels into electric cars, even for slow charging when parked, is a good idea, despite potential fragility concerns at high speeds. Regarding electric vehicles, Céline states that France has enough electricity to support a full transition to electric cars, provided charging is managed intelligently. Octopus Energy offers unlimited electric vehicle charging at home for €45 per month, which is significantly cheaper than the typical €300 monthly cost for charging an EV at normal rates, or the much higher cost of gasoline cars (€150 for two tanks a month). They also plan to offer unlimited charging at home and on public charging stations for €50 per month. The French electricity mix heavily relies on nuclear power (64%), followed by hydroelectric (12%), wind (10%), solar (4%), and gas (6%), with a minimal contribution from coal (0.16%). France is a major electricity exporter in Europe. While nuclear energy is currently a significant part of France's energy independence, new nuclear plants take 15 years to build, making renewables crucial for immediate future needs. Céline encourages consumers to optimize their electricity consumption. For example, using Octopus Energy's "Optic Compteur" tool (free and available to all, regardless of provider) can help determine the correct meter capacity. Reducing capacity from 9 to 6 KVA can save €50 annually. Octopus Energy offers flexible KVA steps (1 to 5 KVA) for more precise billing. They also offer incentives like €45 per year for clients who allow them to remotely control their water heater to operate during periods of low electricity demand or negative pricing. Negative pricing means consumers are paid to consume electricity when there's an oversupply, often from solar and wind. Céline details Octopus Energy's unique company culture: no HR department, no strict processes, and no obligation to prioritize profit over ecological or social interests (as a "social and solidarity enterprise" with investors like Al Gore). Instead, they focus on a shared vision and empower employees, leading to high engagement and innovative customer service. Physicist Fabricio Bucella explains the basics of electricity: it's the movement of electrons, requiring tension (like water pressure) and a conductor (cable). Resistance, like in a toaster, restricts flow, generating heat. Electricity travels at the speed of light within a cable. He demonstrates concepts like grounding (the third pin in an outlet for safety) and how an electrical circuit works. He also shows experiments: an induction coil creating an arc of electricity by breaking down air's insulation, electricity passing through a strawberry due to its water content, and a Geissler tube lighting up with rarefied air as electrons excite atoms to emit light. Finally, he demonstrates a Van de Graaff generator, where a person accumulates static charge, causing their hair to stand on end, and experiencing a small, harmless static shock upon discharge. He also demonstrates a human chain experiment where participants feel a jolt when the circuit is completed. Céline advocates switching from gas to electricity for heating, citing environmental benefits, 40% lower costs with heat pumps (compared to gas before the energy crisis), and an additional 30% savings if the heat pump operation is managed by the provider. This also contributes to France's energy sovereignty, as gas is imported, while wind, solar, and hydro are domestic resources. Céline's proudest professional achievement at Octopus Energy is the company being recognized as a "Great Place to Work," reflecting a positive and supportive environment for employees. She emphasizes the importance of accessible leadership and actively listening to employees and customers. Octopus Energy uses AI for internal tasks and to enhance data analysis. Her most valuable business lesson is to pursue work that excites you and to choose a life partner who supports your career. The interview concludes by reiterating the simplicity of switching to Octopus Energy, taking only 3 minutes online, with no service interruption or cancellation fees.