Egypt, Arab Rep.

Getting Electricity in

Egypt, Arab Rep.

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: South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company (SCEDC)
  • City: Cairo

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 The client obtains clearance/ certificate from the district or municipality stating that building is conforming to conditions in building permit

The client needs a certificate from the district or local municipality (unit) stating that a building permit was issued and that the construction was completed accordingly. This is necessary to obtain a new connection to the utilities.

Agency: District Office 		1 calendar day no charge
2 The client submits application for electricity connection and awaits estimate of connection fees from South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company (SCEDC)

The client must submit the following documents to formally request an electricity connection:
• Copy of the national ID
• Copy of the tax card (for commercial and industrial activities)
• Trade License
• Copy of lease agreement (or ownership document)
• Copy of the property title (proof of ownership of the land)
• Copy of the building permit
• Ground floor designs of building
• Letter from district office clearing electrical connection
• Excavation permit
• Copy of the business incorporation decision from the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI)

Technicians review the request and determine which distribution network is closest to the warehouse. After the utility has determined the nearest network and paid the fees, the client will need to apply for an excavation permit at the district.



Agency: South Cairo Electric Distribution Company (SCEDC) 		18 calendar days no charge
* 3 The client obtains external inspection by South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company (SCEDC) and estimate of the connection fees

A SCEDC electrical engineer will inspect the site. If the review concludes that a special room is needed for an electrical generator, it is the client’s responsibility to build such a room. The purpose of the inspection is to check whether there is enough capacity to provide the power needed and whether the property has any specific requirements. The client does not have to be present at the inspection.
Following that, the inspector prepares a report with an estimate of the connection fees.
No inspection of the entire internal wiring is carried out during the process.
The client must pay the estimated fees within one month, after which the estimate offer expires.

Agency: South Cairo Electric Distribution Company (SCEDC) 		1 calendar day no charge
4 The client obtains excavation permit from the district

In order for the district to issue the excavation permit, the customer must first obtain an approval from the Greater Cairo Utility Data Center and pay the corresponding fees.

The client needs to also submit a copy of the building permit, a copy of the ID card, and a tax statement.

Agency: District Office 		12 calendar days no charge
* 5 The client obtains approval of the Greater Cairo Utility Data Center

This approval is needed to obtain excavation permit only for buildings located in Greater Cairo.

Agency: Greater Cairo Utility Data Center 		10 calendar days EGP 1,750.0
6 The client obtains external works from South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company (SCEDC)

External works can start when the client has paid the connection fees at the utility’s cashier and submitted the excavation permit to the utility.
For loads below 500 kVA, the customer does not need to buy or pay for any material required for the external works or connection. Thus, whether an upgrade of the system (transformer is replaced with one of higher capacity) is needed or not will not affect the total cost. However, if a substation is needed, the customer will be asked to build the room .
A substation in this case is not needed. External works in this case consist of laying out underground cables to the closest point of supply.

Agency: South Cairo Electric Distribution Company (SCEDC) 		17 calendar days EGP 61,000.0
7 The client signs supply contract and obtains meter installation from South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company (SCEDC)

To request meter installation, the customer must fill out a separate application form with the South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company (SCEDC). The application form must be accompanied by a copy of the national ID, the property details, and identification number of the metallic board.

When the external works have been completed, the client signs a supply contract. The utility then installs the meter.


Agency: South Cairo Electric Distribution Company (SCEDC) 		6 calendar days EGP 1,025.4
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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