Compagnie Nationale du Rhône

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Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) is a French electricity company based in Lyon. It was founded in 1933 and mainly generates renewable power from hydroelectric plants on the Rhône River, plus wind and solar farms. It operates 19 major dams and power stations along the Rhône, with a concession for these facilities until 2023.

Since 2002, CNR has been independent of Électricité de France (EDF) and is a major competitor in the French electricity market. Its hydro output represents about a quarter of France’s hydro power and roughly 3% of the country's total electricity production.

As of 2015, CNR had installed capacity of 3,464 MW and produced about 14.4 TWh per year. In 2015, the company reported revenue of €1.09 billion and employed about 1,372 people.

Ownership is shared between the state and local authorities and Electrabel (a subsidiary of ENGIE). The Caisse des dépôts et consignations owns 33.20%, local communities hold 16.83% each (totalling 50.03%), and Electrabel owns the remaining 49.97%. The European Commission found that GDF Suez (now ENGIE) effectively controlled CNR since 2003 due to the dilution of public ownership, and Electrabel was fined €20 million for not warning the Commission about the acquisition.

Key dams on the Rhône include Génissiat, Donzère-Mondragon, Beauchastel, Montélimar, Seyssel, and Chautagne.