Providing gas and electricity to French cities before the Nationalization Law of 1946

This paper analyses the supply of gas and electricity in French cities with respect to the rest of Latin Europe. It focusses on the finde-siecle period, particularly the two decades from 1890 to 1910. In France, the history and importance of the gas industry ensured intense competition. In fact, the gas companies had much experience negotiating with municipal councils. At times, they could get the best of promicing electrical initiatives. However, in a country where direct management by municipalities ('municipal socialism') did not take root, hydroelectric companies, especially after 1910, succeeded in imposing their technical and commercial logic by going beyond the local level.