Électricité de France (EDF) is the main electricity generation and distribution company in France. It was founded on April 8, 1946 as a result of the nationalization of a number of electricity producers, transporters and distributors by the Communist Minister of Industrial Production Marcel Paul . Until November 19, 2004 it was a government corporation, but it is now a limited-liability corporation under private law (société anonyme). The government plans to float 30% of its shares on the stock market by the end of 2005, and retain 70% government ownership.
EDF held a monopoly in the distribution, but not the production, of electricity in France until 1999, when the first European Commission directive to harmonize regulation of electricity markets was implemented.
EDF is one of the world's largest producers of electricity. In 2003, it produced 22% of the European Union's electricity, primarily from nuclear power:
Its 58 active nuclear reactors (in 2004) are spread out over 20 sites. They are comprised of 34 900MW reactors, 20 1300MW reactors, and 4 1450MW reactors.
Sweden : 100 % Skandrenkraft , 36,32 % Groupe Graninge
Switzerland : 50 % Chatelot , 50 % Emosson , 14,25 % Groupe ATEL , 26,26 % Motor Colombus
United Kingdom : 100 % EDF Energy , created after the acquisition of Seeboard by London Electricity Group in July 2002, 100 % EDF Trading , 100 % EDF UK . EDF owns the British electricity company EDF Energy - a merger of London Energy, SWEB Energy and Seeboard Energy - which distributes 22% of Britain's electricity. Its call centres are based in London, Sunderland, Hove and Exeter.
