Hong Kong SAR, China

Getting Electricity in

Hong Kong SAR, China

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: CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd.
  • City: Hong Kong

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 The client submits application for electricity connection and awaits technical conditions from CLP Power Ltd.

Internal wiring works before connection of supply should be carried out by a Registered Electrical Worker (REW) or a team of electricians led by a REW . When it comes to the stage that supply is connected (e.g. for testing or alteration after supply connection), the internal wiring works should be carried out by the REW.]

The Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) and the REW should be registered with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government (www.emsd.gov.hk). The clients requesting electricity supply need to complete a supply application form and provide a document for identity verification (Copy of identity or Business Registration Certificate).

The application form can serve the purpose of a supply contract. If the client signs on the application form, it implies that they accept our supply conditions. The supply conditions are detailed in the "Supply Rule", which can be obtained in our Company website.
The client can submit the application for electricity connection with CLP Power Ltd. online, in person, by mail, email, fax, or on the phone. https://www.clponline.com.hk/ClientService/OpenAccount/Pages/Default.aspx?lang=en

The utility conducts an inspection of the site after receiving the application to study the specifics of the connection (possibility to connect directly to existing network or need for an expansion). After that, it formulates a supply project including network design and cable route selection after inspection. This is the Project Planning phase.
The client does not have to await an estimate of connection fees.


Agency: CLP Power Ltd. 		8 calendar days no charge
* 2 The client obtains external inspection from CLP Power Ltd.

Site inspection is required for preparing the supply scheme. It is part of CLP Power's work in procedure 1, and interface with the client is not necessary for the inspection.

Agency: CLP Power Ltd. 		1 calendar day no charge
3 The client receives external works from CLP Power Ltd.

(a) Application for excavation permit

An excavation permit is required for the excavation of cable trench in the public areas. The utility is required to apply to the relevant government departments for the permit. The time required depends on the responsiveness of government departments.

The excavation permit will be applied for after the project planning stage. Since the permit will specify a limited work period, before applying for the permit, the utility will confirm with the client the target supply date and the target completion date of the work required by the client e.g. duct and draw pit. The excavation permit application cost is paid by the company and is not charged to clients as part of their cost for connection.

Efforts were made to reduce the time to obtain an excavation permit. The efforts consisted of setting up a liaison group with representatives of four relevant government departments, viz. Highways Department, Hong Kong Police Force, Transport Department and Economic Analysis & Business Facilitation Unit, and CLP Power Hong Kong Limited to examine and rationalize the procedures related to applications for excavation permits in connection with supply of electricity for 2-storey warehouses or similar industrial buildings. As a result, the following performance pledges are publicized (http://www.gov.hk/en/theme/bf/smart/efficiency/excavation.htm) :
• Highways Department to complete initial assessment of an excavation proposal and approve an application for excavation permit within 1 working day respectively;
• Transport Department to process a proposed temporary traffic arrangement within 21 days; and
• Highways Department and Hong Kong Police Force to accept advance notification of electricity companies 2 working days before the commencement of excavation works.

These efforts were followed by another set of efforts to further reduce the time needed to obtain the permit: the government conducted a liaison group meeting with the CLP Power Hong Kong Limited to review the application process for excavation permits in connection with electricity supply for 2-storey warehouses in non-residential areas. As a result, the Transport Department has further streamlined its procedures and reduced the time for processing temporary traffic arrangement proposals from 21 days to 14 days. The relevant Guidance Note for the Highways Department, Hong Kong Police Force and Transport Department has been revised accordingly: http://www.hyd.gov.hk/eng/public/publications/xppm/rd/doc/GN_Application%20for%20XP%20for%20Supply%20of%20electricity.pdf

(b) Installation Work

Processing time includes LV cable laying and jointing work on a trench (150m) with road crossing. (Construction phase)

It excludes the advance notification for commencement of the works submitted to government departments after obtaining the excavation permit. This is also a time taken for manpower mobilization and material preparation. This is the Resource programming phase.

Agency: CLP Power Ltd. 		34 calendar days no charge
4 The client obtains meter installation and final connection from CLP Power Ltd.

The utility then inspects the internal wiring and installs the meter. The Registered Electrical Worker representing the client must be present.
In fact, “according to the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations, Cap. 406E, any fixed electrical installation shall, after completion and before it is energized for use, be inspected, tested and certified with Work Completion Certificate (Form WR1) by a registered electrical worker and contractor. In case of any repair, alteration or addition to a fixed electrical installation, only the affected parts of the installation need to be inspected, tested and certified with Work Completion Certificate (Form WR1) by a registered electrical worker and contractor. A copy of the Work Completion Certificate (Form WR1) together with copies of Certificate of Registration of Electrical Contractor and Certificate of Registration of Electrical Worker should be forwarded to the Licensing Office as proof of compliance with the electricity safety requirements.”

The Registered Electrical Worker in charge of the internal installation and final inspection signs the WR1 form, and submits it to the utility at the appointment for electricity turn-on.
The client requests a final inspection for meter installation from CLP Power through the installation inspection appointment system of the utility. The final inspection does not cover the entire internal wiring, but only the interface with the external circuit. The WR1 form is enough to guarantee the wiring has been done in accordance with the electricity regulations.

The meter will be installed and supply connected after satisfactory inspection of the internal wiring (not entire inspection; only for the interface with external network). The service pledge is to install the meter within the same day of the satisfactory inspection of the internal wiring.

Agency: CLP Power Ltd. 		1 calendar day HKD 4,313.8
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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