French court orders withdrawal of Linky smart meter in home after health complaints

A French appeals court has ruled that a homeowner can legally have his Linky smart electricity meter removed due to health concerns, a first such ruling of its kind in France. 

The decision may have ramifications for new rules regarding the installation of such meters in homes, with property owners who do not install the meters now paying extra on their electricity bill.

Joseph Cascina, who lives in the Loire department, complained of health issues following the installation of the Linky meter at his property. 

The box would make constant ‘whistling noises’, leaving him unable to sleep and resorting to sleeping pills. This whistling noise could only be heard when he was inside his property. 

“When I leave my house, within an hour, the whistling noises stop. If I go to my parents-in-law’s house that does not have a Linky meter, there is no whistling noise. As soon as I return to my home, within a quarter of an hour, the whistling returns,” he told local media France 3. 

He asked Enedis – France’s national grid manager responsible for installing the meters – to remove the box but the company refused.

An initial request to the local courts to remove the meter was successful, as The Connexion reported in 2023, but the decision was contested and taken to an appeals court.

Both the local court in Saint-Etienne and the Lyon court of appeals ruled in his favour, saying it was likely that he suffered from ‘electrosensibility’. 

Up to 5% of people in France may suffer from electrosensibility, according to Anses health agency.

Wider ramifications 

Responding to the court’s decision, Enedis said that it “is an exception and in no way reflects the case law relating to the installation of Linky meters.”

Several requests to remove the meters due to electrosensibility have been made, but this is the first time a higher appeals court has required the box be uninstalled for health reasons.

The court case takes on increased importance in relation to new rules regarding property owners to install Linky meters. 

Despite Enedis’ above comments, residents who do not want to install the meter may use this decision as justification, if they can prove they suffer from electrosensibility. The ‘Stop Linky 5G’ group believe the case may set a legal precedent.

Starting from this January, property owners that do not install a Linky meter in their property will face an annual €64 surcharge (via their electricity bills). 

This is to encourage those who do not yet have the meters to install them, removing the need for manual readings and making the national electricity grid easier to manage.

Previously, owners who did not agree to having a meter installed but gave manual readings of their old meter were exempt (only those that did not give any readings faced increased charges). 

Around 10% of properties in France still do not have a Linky meter. 

Enedis said in cases where the meters could not be installed for technical – but not health – reasons, the surcharges would not be added to customers’ bills. 

Read more: Extra fees start for French homes without Linky smart electricity meter