Bahamas, The

Getting Electricity in

Bahamas, The

Listed below are the procedures, time and cost required for a business to obtain an electricity connection for a newly constructed building.

The information appearing on this page was collected as part of the Doing Business project, which measures and compares regulations relevant to the life cycle of a small- to medium-sized domestic business in 183 economies. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2011.

  • Name of Utility: Bahamas Electricity Corporation
  • City: Nassau

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Before the start of the internal wiring process, customer applies for a electrical permit from the Building Control Dept.

This is before internal wiring process. Before starting to carry out the internal wiring, the owner purchases the Electrical Permit, Specification of Proposed New Electrical Installation form (which gives details about building, electrical equipment to be installed, and type of service required) from the Building Control Dept, completes it and submits it. The Building Control Dept. signs it and gives one copy to customer and sends one to the utility.

Agency: Customer 		1 calendar day no charge
2 Request and receive first internal wiring inspection from Building Control Dept.

This inspection is conducted while internal wiring is being done.

Agency: Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Building Control Dept 		7 calendar days no charge
3 Receive second internal wiring inspection from Building Control Dept.

This is second round of internal inspection done during internal wiring. The repeated inspections are because the Building Control Department monitors the quality of internal wiring.

Agency: Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Building Control Dept 		1 calendar day no charge
4 Request and receive final inspection from Ministry of Works, Building Control Dept.

This is the final inspection done by the Ministry of Works, and the Inspector signs off on the certificate after ascertaining that all internal wiring has been done satisfactorily.

Agency: Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Building Control Dept 		14 calendar days no charge
* 5 Receive site visit, estimate from Bahamas Electricity Corporation, and make payment

The utility then sends across a engineer from the planning dept who conducts a site visit and prepares an estimate. A letter is then send to the customer alongwith an invoice stating the cost of the connection works. The payment can be made at the two offices of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation by check, cash or credit card. The connection costs includes the cost of a distribution transformer and accessories.

Agency: Bahamas Electricity Corporation 		33 calendar days USD 20,000.0
6 Bahamas Electricity Corporation conducts external connection works

This involves the construction of the mains extension, installation of the transformer and the installation of the service cable.

Agency: Bahamas Electricity Corporation 		28 calendar days no charge
7 Customer opens a electricity account with Bahamas Electicity Corporation

In order to open an account, the customer should bring the following into BEC's Business Office on Blue Hill and Tucker Roads or at the Marathon Mall Office:
• The original Electrical Installation Approval, a copy of the Occupancy Certificate (or occupancy exemption). These documents are issued by the Building Control Division of the Ministry of Works & Transport and can be obtained from the electrical or building contractor.
• Two forms of personal identification, the National Insurance Card (a must), along with a valid Passport or Voters Card. In the case of non-working expatriates, a valid Passport (a must) along with a Social Security Card or Drivers License.
• Where the applicant is a Limited Company or Government Ministry, the following is required: A letter on the Company's or Ministry's letterhead with the name of two (2) signatories, positions held, along with the Company's seal or Ministry's stamp affixed; along with the requirements in point 1.
• The letter should state that the company / government ministry applies for the supply of electricity to certain named premises and authorizes the persons (also to be named) to sign on the Company's or Ministry's behalf. There ought to be two signatories on the Company's or Ministry's Account with the Corporation.
The security deposit is only returned about termination of contract.

Agency: Bahamas Electricity Corporation 		1 calendar day BSD 1,851.4
8 Bahamas Electricity Corporation install meter and electricity starts flowing

The service extension (transformer, service cable, etc) has been completed prior to the account being opened, and meter is now installed and electricity turned on.

Agency: Bahamas Electricity Corporation 		5 calendar days no charge
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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