French and Dutch utilities gear up for euro billing

Bills issued by French power utility EdF and gas utility GdF will from Jan 1, 1999, contain information in both the euro and the national currency. However, customers will not be obliged to make payments in euros. EdF's Treasury managers will begin dealing in euros from the same date. Similarly, Dutch energy and gas supply concerns will being including information about euro prices on their bills. Dutch energy and water utilities together estimate that it will cost them DFl 120 million to convert to the euro.