Geoff, that policy of putting
all new domestic-supply underground is a direct result of
le grand tempete of 26 decembre 1999 that knocked down so many poles in the Northern Departements. EDF had no choice but to import linemen from the UK to repair the damage in good time. Of course, you may have noticed one benefit of all-overhead supply plus the ubiquitous
fosse-septique [ as opposed to mains drainage & sewerage]. French streets are seldom dug up to service faults in cables or drains and thus don't resemble the UK's bumpy patchwork-quilt road surfaces!
The French [ and me for that matter! ] don't give a monkey's what a mess it all looks, as long as it's functional and the bar keeps running.
....a three phase supply from the same pole and on very thin wires.
Of course your kin's neighbor has in effect three separate house circuits of perhaps as little as 15A each. It's hours of harmless fun juggling the washing machine, range, kettle, microwave, etc., just to see how far you can stretch 15A and not melt a 2" nail...er.. trip a breaker!
