If you ever need an excuse to get out of D.I.Y. chores, print this out and leave it lying on the kitchen table…

One day, my friend Steve Cooper was drilling a hole in his living room so he could finally hang a picture that he’d bought about six months previously.

He made a note of the positions of all the sockets and light fittings, picked a spot away from all the wires, and got drilling.

Next thing he knew, there was an explosion of bright blue light, and he was thrown clear across the room. It turns out the electrics in his apartment were a right mess, with wires running all over the place.

Luckily, it propelled him away from the current, and his only injuries were minor burns to his hands.

But he swears something else happened to him that, at the time, seemed most unlikely…

Installing a new electricity supply in France is fairly straight-forward.  EDF (Electricité de France) will do it for you (at a cost), providing the supply is no more than 10 metres from the property.  If the distance is greater than 10 metres you will have to get some-one else to install it.  Here are some considerations for those wanting to do it themselves.

By turning a long line of mirrors, the first solar thermal plant in nearly twenty years was launched last week in Bakersfield, California. Unlike solar photovoltaic systems that convert sunlight into electricity, this power system will focus sunlight on tubes that contains water. The light heats the water, creating steam that is used to power turbines.

At full capacity, Kimberlina will generate 5 megawatts of power, enough for about 3,500 homes in Central California. Although this is a small amount of energy compared with other utility scale power plants, this plant will serve as a gateway for a much larger solar plant.

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Ausra, the manufacturer of the solar panels announced a purchase agreement in November, 2007 for a solar power plant of 177 megawatts. Once completed, the Carrizo Plains solar plant in Central California will generate enough power for 120,000 homes.

Solar technology is especially well suited for the American Southwest where huge amounts of sunshine make this region rich with solar energy potential. Air conditioners are accountable for a large amount of the electric load and the highest electric demand corresponds with solar radiation.

Ausra is well known for their claim that the total US electricity load (day and night) could be generated in an area that is 92 miles by 92 miles. This is made possible by steam storage, consequently allowing solar plants to operate after the sun has set.

What is a French Property Survey and do I need one?

The English type of property survey is almost unknown in France. There is not even a word for Surveyor; the nearest being ‘Expert de Batiment’ or ‘Maitre d’Oeuvre’.

There is a legal requirement for a French vendor of a property to provide the purchaser and the Notaire with a report identifying the presence of asbestos in the property, the presence of lead in paint and, in the south of the country, the presence of termites (this last point is generally extended to other parts of the country to include all parasites).  The report will also comment on energy consumption in the house.

It is expected that the scope of the report will be extended in the future to include septic tanks and electrical safety.

Specialist businesses, who have the necessary equipment to perform the required tests, provide these Reports (written in French).  These Companies do not provide structural surveys, they are not looking at the general structural stability of the building, nor at any of the other services such as water, gas or electricity.

Do you really need a French bank account , especially if you’re only buying a holiday home and not moving to France permanently?

Well, it is certainly preferable to have a bank account in France, especially for those looking to move abroad and work, in order to have their salary paid. You also need a French account if you have a French loan or mortgage so that the repayments can be made to your provider.