What Meter Power Do You Need for a Charging Station? (Linky, Subscription, Load Shedding)

Even before comparing charging station models, one question shapes your entire project: can your electricity meter handle the charging load? A 7.4 kW wallbox draws as much power on its own as an entire home at peak consumption. The good news is that there is almost always a suitable solution, often without major work. This guide shows you how to read your subscribed power in kVA on the Linky meter, how much a 3.7 to 22 kW charging station actually consumes, and how to choose between increasing your subscription and dynamic load shedding.

Subscribed power, kVA, kW: the concepts to set out first

The subscribed power is the maximum power your electricity contract allows you to draw at any given moment. It is expressed in kilovolt-amperes (kVA), whereas a charging station's power is expressed in kilowatts (kW). For residential use, you can apply the simplified equivalence 1 kVA ≈ 1 kW: a 9 kVA meter can deliver around 9 kW in total, across all appliances combined.

If the distinction between power and energy seems unclear, our guide kW and kWh: understanding charging lays out the basics in a few minutes. Remember the key point: kW determines charging speed, while kVA determines what your installation can draw simultaneously.

Because that is the crux of it: the charging station never operates on its own. Electric heating, hobs, oven, water heater, tumble dryer... it all adds up. It is the sum of the power drawn at the same moment that must stay below your subscribed power. The whole art of sizing lies in managing these simultaneous peaks.

How to read your subscribed power on the Linky or your bill

On the Linky meter

The Linky meter displays the information with a few button presses:

1. Find the two "+" and "−" buttons below the meter's screen.
2. Press "+" several times to scroll through the information screens.
3. Stop on the "PUISSANCE SOUSCRITE" (subscribed power) screen: the value shown in kVA is the one in your contract.
4. Continue to "PUISSANCE APP." (instantaneous apparent power): you can see in real time what your home is consuming.

A practical tip: take this instantaneous power reading on a winter evening around 7-8 pm, when heating and cooking are running together. The margin between this peak and your subscribed power indicates what remains available for charging.

On your bill or your online account

The subscribed power also appears on the first page of your electricity bill, in the description of your plan (for example "base option 9 kVA" or "peak/off-peak 12 kVA"), as well as in your online customer account. Common residential values are 6, 9 and 12 kVA single-phase, with higher tiers for three-phase.

What a 3.7 to 22 kW charging station actually consumes

Each charging station power corresponds to a specific current drawn on your installation:

• 3.7 kW (single-phase, around 16 A): slow charging, suited to low-mileage drivers and modest batteries.
• 7.4 kW (single-phase, around 32 A): the residential standard, which restores comfortable range overnight for most vehicles.
• 11 kW (three-phase, around 16 A per phase): a good balance for homes already connected to three-phase.
• 22 kW (three-phase, around 32 A per phase): accelerated charging, rarely essential at home, especially as many vehicles cap their AC charging well below this.

To choose between the two most requested power levels, our comparison 7.4 or 22 kW charging station details the use cases. And remember: a charging station more powerful than your car's onboard charger will not charge any faster.

Table: which meter power for which charging station?

The table below gives indicative orders of magnitude, to be refined according to your appliances (electric heating or not, water heater, pool...) and your charging habits.

Charging station	Network required	Current drawn	Subscribed power generally recommended	Key takeaway
3.7 kW	Single-phase	≈ 16 A	6 kVA and above, depending on other uses	Often works without a contract change
7.4 kW	Single-phase	≈ 32 A	9 to 12 kVA, or less with load shedding	Smart charging often avoids a subscription increase
11 kW	Three-phase	≈ 16 A per phase	12 kVA three-phase and above	Requires an existing or new three-phase connection
22 kW	Three-phase	≈ 32 A per phase	24 to 36 kVA	Reserved for specific needs, rarely at home

In practice, many homes fitted with a 7.4 kW charging station keep their existing subscription thanks to charge management — more on this below.

Increase your subscription or install dynamic load shedding?

When the power margin is too tight, two strategies are available to you. They are not mutually exclusive, but they follow different logics.

When a subscription increase is justified

Increasing your subscribed power is a simple process: a request to your supplier is enough and, with a Linky meter, the change is generally made remotely, without any physical intervention. In return, the fixed part of your bill increases every month, whether or not you use that extra power.

This option makes sense when:

• your home is already close to saturation in winter, even without a charging station;
• you want to charge at full power at any time, including during the household's consumption peaks;
• you drive a lot and aim for fast daily charging, with no compromise.

When dynamic charge management is the better option

Dynamic load shedding (or dynamic charge management) involves fitting the charging station with a device that continuously measures the home's overall consumption — typically via the Linky meter's teleinformation output or a clamp ammeter. The charging station automatically modulates the power sent to the vehicle: it slows down when the oven and heating are running, then ramps back up as soon as the household settles.

The result: no risk of an outage, and often no subscription increase needed. Since the car stays plugged in for many hours, especially overnight, these adjustments go unnoticed in most situations. Our dedicated article on dynamic charge management for charging stations details how it works and the technical prerequisites.

Smart charging has an additional benefit: combined with off-peak scheduling, it also optimises the cost of charging at home.

Our installers' advice: before any subscription increase, have a power assessment carried out. In a large share of residential projects, a 7.4 kW charging station with dynamic load shedding fits onto the existing subscription — a kVA increase should remain the fallback solution, not the default reflex.

Single-phase or three-phase: do you need to change your connection?

Most French homes are supplied with single-phase power, which covers 3.7 and 7.4 kW charging stations. Three-phase is essential for an 11 or 22 kW charging station: it spreads the power across three phases and allows higher total power levels.

Does that mean you need to switch to three-phase to charge? In the vast majority of cases, no:

• a 7.4 kW single-phase charging station meets the daily needs of most drivers;
• switching from single-phase to three-phase involves a connection modification by the grid operator, delays, costs and sometimes reworking the electrical panel;
• many vehicles only charge single-phase on AC or cap out at 11 kW: three-phase would then be underused.

Three-phase makes full sense if your home is already equipped with it (common with a heat pump or a workshop), or for specific needs: two vehicles to charge, very high mileage, a large-scale solar project.

The power assessment: the step that secures your project

On paper, the rules above seem simple. In the field, every installation has its particularities: cable cross-section, run length, panel condition, existing protective devices. This is why a charging station requires a dedicated circuit with suitable protective devices — including the choice of residual current device, detailed in our article on the circuit breaker and residual current protection of a charging station — and why an IRVE-qualified professional is mandatory above 3.7 kW.

In concrete terms, an IRVE electrician carries out a power assessment: a reading of your subscribed power, an analysis of your peak consumption, a check of the single-phase or three-phase connection, then a reasoned recommendation — suitable charging station, load shedding, or subscription adjustment. Our IRVE-certified charging station installation page details the full process, and our guide to home charging station installation answers practical questions. For a personalised study of your meter and your project, request your quote within 48 hours after a complete brief, across France.

FAQ: meter power and charging station

What meter power do you need for a 7.4 kW charging station?

A 7.4 kW charging station draws around 32 A single-phase, equivalent to 7.4 kVA on its own. With a 9 kVA subscription, it works if the rest of the home consumes little during charging; with dynamic load shedding, it often fits without changing your subscription. The power assessment decides on a case-by-case basis.

Does the Linky cut off the power if I exceed my subscribed power?

The Linky meter tolerates brief overages, but a significant or prolonged overage triggers a cut-off: you then have to reduce consumption and reset it. This is precisely the scenario that dynamic load shedding eliminates, by keeping total consumption below the subscribed threshold.

Do you need to switch to three-phase to charge an electric car?

No in most cases: a 7.4 kW single-phase charging station covers the daily needs of the majority of drivers. Three-phase is only justified for an 11 or 22 kW charging station, a home already connected to three-phase, or specific needs such as two vehicles to charge simultaneously.

Does load shedding slow charging down significantly?

Occasionally, yes: the charging station reduces power during the home's consumption peaks. But since these peaks are short and the vehicle stays plugged in for several hours, the impact on the range recovered by morning is generally negligible.

How much does it cost to add dynamic load shedding to my charging station?

The price depends on your electrical panel, the charging station model and the run length, so it is always quoted individually. At Volticom, this quote is free, detailed and with no obligation, issued within 48 hours after a study of your meter, across France. You therefore know the exact amount before any decision, with no surprises at the end of the job.

Can I install my charging station myself to save money?

Above 3.7 kW, the installation must be carried out by a QUALIFELEC-qualified IRVE electrician, otherwise you lose the manufacturer's warranty, the insurance and eligibility for the ADVENIR scheme (subject to its rules). Self-installing such a power level on a non-dedicated circuit also presents a real fire risk. Our IRVE-certified installers work throughout France and secure the whole job, from the power assessment to the 30 mA Type B circuit breaker.

How long does it take between the quote and my charging station going live?

Everything starts with your detailed quote, provided free of charge within 48 hours after the study of your meter, across France. Once the quote is approved, installing a residential charging station is generally completed within a timeframe confirmed after the site assessment by our certified teams. Commissioning and load-shedding configuration are carried out the same day, with the charging station operational as we leave.

What happens if my charging station breaks down after installation?

Every Volticom installation is covered by a decennial liability insurance policy with AXA, subject to the declared activities, limits and terms of the current insurance certificate, with an after-sales response. You are never left alone facing a malfunction: a simple call to 09 55 92 66 32 or a message to contact@volticom.fr triggers the support process. This peace of mind is an integral part of our service, with no hidden costs.

Will I pay more for electricity each month because of the charging station?

Not necessarily: thanks to dynamic load shedding, many homes keep their existing subscription and avoid the increase in the fixed part linked to a higher kVA. Combined with charging scheduled during off-peak hours, your charging station even optimises the cost per electric kilometre. During the power assessment, we precisely cost the most economical solution for your situation.

How can I be sure the recommended power is the right one for my home?

Rather than applying a general rule, our IRVE electrician carries out a power assessment on site: a reading of your subscribed power, an analysis of your consumption peaks and a check of your single-phase or three-phase connection. You then receive a reasoned recommendation, translated into a quote within 48 hours after a complete brief, across France. This is the guarantee of a charging station that is neither oversized nor throttled, perfectly calibrated for your installation.

Volticom sizes your installation, from the meter to the charging station

Volticom, an installer based in Paris and operating throughout France, is QUALIFELEC IRVE P1·P2·P3 and RGE certified. Our teams carry out the power assessment, configure dynamic load shedding and put together your ADVENIR scheme (subject to its rules) aid application. Every installation is covered by a decennial liability insurance policy with AXA, subject to the declared activities, limits and terms of the current insurance certificate and AXA insurance, with responsive after-sales support. Request your quote within 48 hours after a complete brief, across France, call 09 55 92 66 32 or write to contact@volticom.fr: together we will confirm the meter power your charging station actually needs.